Berwick police make domestic abuse arrests

(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 made three arrests in response to domestic abuse reports over the weekend, in addition to a domestic battery charge in one warrant and home invasion and attempted kidnapping charges in another. The town’s officers also made an arrest on a human trafficking count.

Berwick
Police Chief David Leonard reported these arrests:
—Shawn Taylor, 42, Berwick, was arrested at 5:25 p.m. Saturday on charges of domestic abuse by strangulation, dis-turbing the peace, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamines. He was also arrested on a warrant for possession of oxycodone, two counts of possession of Xanax and possession of clonazepam.
Officers with the Berwick Police Department were dispatched to a welfare complaint at a River Road address.
Officers learned from neighbors that a disturbance had occurred in the early morning hours. and a female may have been injured.
Officers observed clothing and other items scattered through the carport and yard area. It was determined at this point that s some type of disturbance had taken place.
After making several attempts to make contact with someone inside the home, a search warrant was secured for the residence. Berwick officers, with the assistance of the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office, executed the warrant and located Taylor along with a female inside the residence.
Officers learned the female had been battered and strangled during the incident. Taylor was found to be in possession of suspected methamphetamines, two types of Xanax, clonazepam and oxycodone. Officers located more suspected meth and paraphernalia inside the residence.
Taylor was booked into Berwick Jail with no bond set. The investigation is ongoing.
The female victim was transported to a local facility for medical evaluation.
—Dax Clements, 36, River Road, Berwick, was arrested at 10:16 p.m. Sunday on a charge of domestic abuse battery (second offense).
—Misty Clements, 40, River Road, Berwick, was arrested at 10:16 p.m. Sunday on a charge of domestic battery.
About 9:57 p.m. Sunday, officers were dispatched to a residence in the 2000 block of River Road in reference to a call of a male and female fighting.
There were obvious signs of a disturbance, and the suspects were identified as Dex and Misty Clements. During the course of the investigation, it was learned that batteries were committed by both, so both were placed under arrest.
Both were transported to the Berwick Police Department, where they were both booked on the charges and waiting for bond to be set.
—Joshua Bergeron, 32, Franklin, was arrested at 8:55 p.m. Friday on charge charges of speeding, possession of marijuana, illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of minor and driving under suspension. Bergeron was also booked on a warrant for failure to appear in 27th Judicial District Court on a charge of domestic abuse by strangulation.
About 8:53 p.m. Friday, officers with the Berwick Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on U.S. 90 for speeding 70 mph in a 50 mph speed zone. The driver was identified as Bergeron, and he was found to be driving with a suspended driver’s license.
During the course of the stop, an odor of marijuana was detected in the vehicle, and a search was conducted. Marijuana and items of drug paraphernalia were located.
There was in a minor as a passenger in the vehicle at the time of the traffic stop, which resulted in the additional charge of Illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor. It was also learned that Bergeron had an outstanding warrant through 27th JDC for the failure to appear.
—Alvin Durapau 32, Venus Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:21 p.m. Friday on Berwick warrants for home invasion and attempted kidnapping.
On Friday, officers with the Berwick Police Department located Durapau at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center and transported him back to Berwick Jail to be booked on warrants that were held for his arrest through Berwick Police Department.
The warrants stem from an incident that occurred March 16 at a residence on Parro Lane in Berwick. Durapau entered a residence without authorization and later tried forcing a female to leave with him in his vehicle.
Durapau was developed as a suspect, but he could not be located that night. Warrants were prepared for his arrest, and he was arrested by the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office on March 15 at a hotel in Franklin.
—Travis Johnson 45, Utah Street, Berwick, was arrested at 1:57 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of marijuana, keeping a disorderly place, violation of a drug-free zone and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also booked on a Berwick warrant for human trafficking.
Officers with the Berwick Police Department, along with officers from Morgan City and Patterson police departments, conducted a search warrant at an address in the 700 block of Utah Street following an investigation into a recent burglary.
During the investigation, officers with the Berwick Police Department secured an arrest warrant for Johnson on the charge of human trafficking. Officers located suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
The residence was located near a church and playground. Johnson was booked into the Berwick Jail with no bond set. This investigation is ongoing.

St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 107 complaints and made these arrests:
—Kaitlyn Beadle, 24, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:25 a.m. Friday on a charge of possession of marijuana. Beadle was released on a summons to appear June 28.
—Joshua Dwayne Dardar Sr., 40, Breaux Bridge, was arrested at 2:48 p.m. Friday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. Bail was set at $29,960.
—Joshua James Folks, 42, Franklin, was arrested at 4:40 p.m. Friday on charges of failure to signal, aggravated flight from officer, resisting arrest or officer, and obstruction of justice (tampering). Folks also held two warrants for failure to appear on the charges of expired motor vehicle inspection, operating a vehicle while license is suspended/revoked/canceled, displaying an invalid registration certificate or registration number plate, and simple burglary. No bail has been set.
—Travis Laron Johnson Jr., 45, Berwick, was arrested at 6:46 p.m. Friday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. Bail on this charge was set at $14,320.23.
—John Kommaseng, 67, New Iberia, was arrested at 10:35 p.m. Friday on a charge of careless operation with accident and driving while intoxicated (first offense). Kommaseng was released on a $3,000 bond.
—Donald Dwayne McDaniel Jr., 21, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:54 a.m. Saturday on a charge of possession of marijuana. McDaniel was released on a summons to appear June 28.
—Juvenile male, 16, Lafayette, was arrested at 6:30 p.m. Saturday on a charge of reckless operation (no accident) and view outward and inward of window. The boy was released into the custody of a parent pending juvenile court proceedings.
—Joshua Jermaine Hopes, 37, Jeanerette, was arrested at 1:14 a.m. Sunday on charges of driving on roadway laned for traffic, driving on right side of road (exceptions), possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driver must be licensed, no license plates, resisting an officer by flight and criminal trespass.
Hopes also held an active warrant for failure to appear on the charges of resisting an officer and switched license plates. Hopes was released on a $6,000 bond.
—Gary Don Martin, 65, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:48 a.m. Sunday on a charge of driving under suspension. Martin was released on a summons to appear June 28.
—Michael Paul Paakula, 36, Houma, was arrested at 5:50 a.m. Sunday on a charge of driving under suspension, driving on roadway laned for traffic and no insurance. Paakula was released on a summons to appear June 28.
—Blake Jacoby Smith, 30, Patterson, was arrested at 1:22 p.m. Sunday on a charge of resisting arrest or officer. Smith was released on a summons to appear June 28.
—Devon Karl Marks Sr., 24, Baldwin, was arrested at 1:43 p.m. Sunday on a charge of possession of stolen things. Marks was released on an $8,500 bond.
—Michel Fleander, 25, New Iberia, , was arrested at 9:27 p.m. Sunday on charges of license plate lights required and possession of drug paraphernalia. Fleander was released on a summons to appear June 28.
—Travis Anthony Yates Sr., 39, Centerville, was arrested at 2:30 a.m. Monday on charges of improper lane usage, condition of windshield, driving under suspension, possession of Schedule II drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.
No bail has been set.
—Gino Hall, 28, Patterson, was arrested at 2:35 p.m. Friday by the Narcotics Section on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Hall was released on a summons to appear June 28.

Morgan City
Police Chief James F. Blair reported that over the last 72-hour period, the Morgan City Police Department responded to 109 calls for service and made this arrest:
—Briony Daigle, 31, Paul Street, Pierre Part, was arrested at 12:11 p.m. Friday on a warrant for theft.

Franklin
Police Chief Morris Beverly report that his department responded to 22 complaints over the weekend and made these arrests:
—Lindsey Bray, 35, Main Street, Franklin, was arrested at 7:10 a.m. Friday on a charge of possession of marijuana. Bray was booked, processed and released on a $2,000 bond.
—John Felton Jr., 58, Ninth Street, Franklin, was arrested at 10:29 p.m. Friday on charges of criminal trespassing, resisting an officer and possession of drug paraphernalia. Felton was booked, processed and held on a $1,500 bond.
—Joseph Thomas III, 58, of Myra Street, Franklin, was arrested at 12:16 a.m. Sunday on a warrant for 3rd Ward City Court for failure to appear on the charge of driving under suspension, and a warrant for 16th Judicial District Court Iberia for failure to appear on the charges of resisting an officer, battery of a police officer and disturbing the peace (intoxication).
Thomas was booked, processed and held on a $5,000 bond.

St. Martin
Sheriff Becket Breaux reported this arrest:
—Broderick Sylvester, 32, Perkins Street, St. Martinville, was arrested Sunday on a charge of contempt of court.

Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:
—Rebecca Ann Corbett, 44, Burchfield Lane, Berwick, was arrested Friday on a charge of possession of meth-amphetamine.
A uniformed patrol deputy observed a vehicle in the 3000 block of La. 70 commit a violation Friday and pro-ceeded to stop the violator.
The deputy made contact with the driver as well as two passengers, one of whom is identified as Corbett.
The deputy noted Corbett’s behavior was suspicious. The deputy obtained consent to search the vehicle. At some point during the investigation process, deputies noted Corbett to be in possession of a quantity of meth-amphetamine.
Corbett was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center with bond set at $20,000.
— Justin J. Fair, 30, Miles Street, Paincourtville, was arrested Sunday on charges of attempted second-degree murder, simple battery, flight from an officer, speeding and careless operation of a motor vehicle, and as a fugitive from Ascension Parish.
The charges arose from a stabbing incident on Saturday near Paincourtville.
Deputies were notified of an incident near a local business establishment in which an individual had been stabbed. The victim was transported by private vehicle to a local medical facility.
As a result of the investigation, Fair was identified as the suspect. Fair departed the scene prior to deputies arriving. Warrants were issued for Fair’s arrest.
On Sunday, a uniformed patrol deputy observed a vehicle similar to Fair’s, and attempted to stop it. The suspect vehicle fled through several streets and farm to market roads. The deputy was able to locate the vehicle and arrest Fair.
Fair was booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center pending a bond hearing.