Berwick man arrested after early Saturday standoff
(Editor’s note: The charges listed here and the narratives that go with them are provided by the police agencies that made the arrests. Guilt or innocence has not been determined in court.)
Berwick police arrested a man early Saturday after a standoff that a police dog helped bring to an end, according to arrest reports.
In Assumption Parish, a Morgan City man was returned from St. Mary Parish to face a motor vehicle theft charge.
Berwick
Police Chief David Leonard reported these arrests:
—Unnamed man, Berwick, was arrested Saturday.
About 12:30 a.m. Saturday, Berwick officers were called to a residence on Versen Street for a domestic disturbance in which a male subject was making threats toward family members. It was also reported that the man stated that if law enforcement was called, he would harm himself or force law enforcement to harm him.
Officers immediately called for additional assistance from the Morgan City Police Department as well as the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office. At the scene, it was learned that someone had been cut during the disturbance. Officers made contact with the man, who refused to cooperate and made statements that he was not going back to jail.
Officers attempted to detain the male, who fled back inside the residence and barricaded himself. Officers negotiated with the male for over an hour and failed to get him to surrender. Officers were able to eventually subdue the male and take him into custody by using less lethal weapons and deploying a Sheriff’s Office K-9.
It was also learned that the suspect may have ingested an unknown substance during the standoff. The suspect was later transported to a local hospital for treatment and was admitted.
Warrants have been issued for the suspect pending his release from the hospital. The identity of the suspect is not being released at this time. The victim was also transported to a local hospital and was later released.
No officers were injured during the standoff, and this matter remains under investigation.
—Steven Gray, 37, Berwick, was arrested at 4:17 p.m. Friday on 16th Judicial District Court warrants on charges of duty of offender to notify law enforcement of change of address, failure to register or notify as a sex offender, possession of drug paraphernalia, flight from an officer and resisting an officer.
About 4 p.m. Friday, an officer with Berwick police was on regular patrol in the area of Pacific Street when he observed a man who was believed to be Gray sitting on a porch at a residence.
With prior knowledge of multiple active warrants for Gray’s arrest, the officer then contacted a second officer to assist. Officers went to the location and made contact with someone at the residence, who allowed officers to enter the residence.
Officers immediately observed Gray in the living room area. Gray was taken into custody without incident and placed under arrest. He was later transported to the Berwick jail, where he was booked on the warrants and transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.
—Devin Leblanc, 19, Berwick was arrested at 6:23 p.m. Friday on Berwick warrants for domestic abuse battery by strangulation, disturbing the peace, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, and on 16th Judicial District Court warrants for failure to appear for trial.
About 6:20 p.m. Friday, an officer was called to Berwick South Road, where the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office had observed Leblanc, who was named in warrants through the Berwick police.
Officers arrived and took Leblanc into custody without incident.
The warrants stem from a Thursday incident in which a complaint was received from an off-duty deputy, who stated that a male subject was beating up his girlfriend at a nearby residence.
Officers arrived and met with the deputy and the victim. It was learned that the male was observed on top of a female and appeared to be choking her. During the course of the investigation, Leblanc was identified as the suspect involved.
While police were on scene, marijuana and drug paraphernalia were located in a bag belonging to Leblanc. Leblanc fled the scene before officers arrived and he could not be located. Warrants were issued for his arrest for the listed charges.
—Juvenile male, 13, Berwick, was arrested at 2:01 p.m. Sunday on charges of domestic abuse battery by strangulation and domestic abuse battery.
About 1:35 p.m. Sunday, Berwick officers were dispatched to a residence on Fairview Drive in reference to a juvenile causing a disturbance. Officers learned that the boy had committed a battery and also tried choking a family member.
The boy fled the area before officers could arrive, but officers quickly located him, and he was placed under arrest without incident. The boy was booked on the charges and was released pending juvenile court proceedings.
—Robert Moss, 57, Franklin, was arrested at 6:33 p.m. Sunday on charges of improper lane usage and driving under suspension.
About 5:57 p.m. Sunday, an officer with Berwick police was on regular patrol in the area of La. 182 at U.S. 90 when a vehicle was observed to cross the fog line. A traffic stop was conducted, and the driver was identified as Moss.
A driver’s license check revealed that Moss was driving with a suspended license. Moss was placed under arrest and later transported to Berwick jail and booked on the charges. He was later released after posting a $302 cash bond.
Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:
—Clemeth Joseph Mire, 38, Vine Drive, Morgan City, was arrested Friday on charges of felony theft of a motor vehicle, speeding 116 mph in a 55 mph zone and reckless operation of a motor vehicle with accident, and on a detainer (probation or parole violator).
The charges arising out of a stolen vehicle case that occurred July 20, 2020, in the Amelia area.
On that date, a uniformed patrol deputy was working stationary traffic enforcement near La. 662 and U.S. 90. The deputy clocked a speeding vehicle and then observed the vehicle crash.
The driver of that vehicle, identified as Mire, was injured in the crash and was transported to a hospital for medical treatment. Mire made unsolicited remarks that he had just stolen the vehicle he crashed from a yard in the area.
A short time later, the owner of the vehicle contacted the Sheriff’s Office to report a vehicle stolen from his home.
Warrants were applied for Mire’s arrest at the time. Mire was arrested in St. Mary Parish on April 5 and transported to Assumption Parish on Friday. He remains incarcerated with a bond set at $30,000.
—Corey Breaux, 44, Post Office Street, Belle Rose, was arrested Friday on charges of possession of methamphetamine.
—Felicia Ann Daigle, La. 1012, Labadieville, was cited for no vehicle registration and expired license plate.
An I.C.E.-assigned deputy on enforcement detail on La. 308 north of Labadieville observed a vehicle commit traffic violations and executed a stop of that vehicle on La. 1012.
The deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Daigle. The deputy proceeded to interview both the driver and one passenger, identified as Breaux.
The deputy noticed suspicious movement from the passenger capsule as well as behavior consistent with illegal drug activity.
The I.C.E. deputy summoned the services of a K-9 unit. During an open-air sniff of the vehicle, the K-9 alerted to specific areas of the vehicle. A quantity of methamphetamine was seized.
Breaux was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center, where he remains incarcerated with bond set at $35,000.
—Jovanta Demond Thomas, 29, Violet, Street, Labadieville, was arrested Saturday on charges of illegal carrying of a weapon, illegal use of weapons or dangerous instrumentalities and disturbing the peace.
The arrest followed a reports of shots fired in the Napoleonville area.
The deputy responded to the area and observed a male subject fitting the description the complainant provided. The deputy immediately detained the individual and did a protective pat down search.
During that process, the deputy located ammunition for a .40-caliber firearm. The deputy also located a .40-caliber handgun in the suspect’s waistband.
Spent .40 cartridges were located in the vicinity of the reported incident.
The deputy had reasonable suspicion to believe that the handgun had been fired recently. Thomas was arrested and booked into the parish detention facility, where he remains incarcerated pending a bond hearing.
—Matt Alexander Steward, 27, Jarvis Street, Gibson, was arrested Saturday on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of MDMA (ecstasy), possession of a weapon in the presence of controlled dangerous substances, illegal window tint, following too closely and no driver’s license.
The felony charges arising from a traffic stop on La. 398 near Labadieville Saturday afternoon.
A uniformed patrol officer observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation and initiated a stop of that vehicle.
The deputy made contact with the driver and conducted an interview.
The deputy’s observations included violator behavior consistent with illegal drug activity. The deputy summoned a K-9 unit to the scene. The K-9 conducted an open-air sniff of the suspect vehicle and alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics.
The investigating officer commenced a search of the vehicle and seized a quantity of marijuana and illegal firearms.
The suspect, Stewart, was arrested and incarcerated pending a bond hearing.
St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 72-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 113 complaints and made these arrests:
—Zharia Brown, 22, Franklin, was arrested at 8:53 a.m. Friday on charges of speeding, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Brown was released on a summons to appear Aug. 25.
—Jeffrey Blaine Lodrigue, 29, Berwick, was arrested at 1:47 p.m. Friday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of methamphetamine. No bail has been set.
—Nickolas James Morris II, 33, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:50 p.m. Friday on two warrants for failure to appear on the charges of possession of marijuana; operating a vehicle while license is suspended, revoked, or canceled; improper lane usage; and operating a vehicle that is not covered by security. No bail has been set.
—John W. Hughes Jr., 40, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 7:57 a.m. Saturday on charges of turning movements and required signals, brake lights required, driving under suspension and no insurance.
Hughes was released on a summons to appear Aug. 25.
—Jeryco Joshua Anderson, 29, Jeanerette, was arrested at 8:40 a.m. Saturday on charges of improper lane usage and driving under suspension. Anderson was released on a summons to appear Aug. 25.
—Isiah Riley, 37, Lafayette, was arrested at 10:07 a.m. Saturday on charges of driving on roadway laned for traffic and driving under suspension. Riley was released on a summons to appear Aug. 25.
—Ke’yon Taj Robinson, 18, New Orleans, was arrested at 11:12 a.m. Saturday on charges of reckless operation (no accident), driver must be licensed and aggravated flight from an officer.
Robinson was released on an $8,500 bond.
—Cody Paul Trosclair, 29, Baldwin, was arrested at 1:08 p.m. Saturday on charges of disturbing the peace (intoxicated), resisting a police officer with force or violence, domestic abuse aggravated assault and domestic abuse child endangerment.
Bail was set at $110,500.
—Brandi Broussard, 28, Crowley, was arrested at 1:54 p.m. Saturday on charges of no child restraint (three counts). Broussard was released on a summons to appear Aug. 25.
—Gene Charles Webb, 31, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:52 p.m. Saturday on charges of vehicle entering highway from private road, driveway, alley, and driving under suspension. Webb was released on a summons to appear Aug. 25.
—Kam’ron Nicholas, 19, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 3:41 a.m. Sunday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and proper equipment required on vehicles. Nicholas was released on a summons to appear Aug 25.
—Josue Dinaldo Rodriguez, 27, Scott, was arrested at 3:57 a.m. Sunday on charges of driving while intoxicated, driving on roadway laned for traffic and open container. Bail was set at $3,250.
—Loretta M. Maddox, 26, Houma, was arrested at 2:18 p.m. Sunday on charges of reckless operation (no accident) and no child restraint. Maddox was released on a summons to appear Aug. 25.
—Terry Babin, 67, Jeanerette, was arrested at 3 p.m. Sunday on a charge of domestic abuse battery. Bail was set at $2,500.
—Trudy Collins, 48, Jeanerette, was arrested at 3 p.m. Sunday on a charge of domestic abuse battery. Collins was released on a $2,500 bond.
Morgan City
Police Chief James F. Blair reported that over the last 72-hour period, the Morgan City Police Department responded to 124 calls for service and made these arrests:
—Mikel James Ashley, 50, La. 182, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:22 a.m. Friday on 6th Ward Court warrants for failure to appear for arraignment and three counts of failure to appear.
—Rebecca Martin, 49, South Railroad Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 6:57 a.m. Friday on charges of criminal trespassing, theft under $1,000, disturbing the peace (intoxicated) and resisting an officer, and on a 6th Ward Court warrant for three counts of failure to appear to pay fine.
—Anthony Terrell Dixon, 31, Everett Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:12 p.m. Saturday on charge of theft under $1,000 and on a warrant for theft under $1,000 and entry or remaining in places or on land after forbidden.
Franklin
Police Chief Morris Beverly said the Franklin Police Department responded to 30 complaints over the past weekend and made these arrests:
—John Felton Jr., 58, Ninth Street, Franklin, was arrested at 9:27 p.m. Friday on the charge of remaining where forbidden. Felton was booked, processed and held on a $500 bond.
—Avery Hines, 34, Jordan Street, Franklin, was arrested at 11:08 p.m. Sunday on an Iberia Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant dated June 26 for bank fraud and forgery, a Jeanerette City Court warrant for failure to appear on the charge of speeding, and a 16th Judicial District Court warrant dated Aug. 11, 2011, for the charge of issuing worthless checks.
Hines was booked, processed, and held with no bond set at time of press release.