Local agencies make nine arrests on marijuana charges

(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.)

At least nine people were arrested by local law enforcement agencies on marijuana possession charges over the weekend, and three people were accused of drunk driving. One of the DWI suspects was also booked on a marijuana charge.

Morgan City
Police Chief James F. Blair reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 121 calls for service over the last 72-hour reporting period and made these arrests beginning Friday:
—Saqunia Marie Harris, 27, Arizona Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:12 p.m. Friday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), possession of marijuana (second offense), no driver’s license, child restraint required and illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of juveniles.
—Melissa Kyle, Evans, 51, Sing Street, Patterson, was arrested at 2:43 a.m. Saturday on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
—Richard John Tabor Jr., 18, La. 317, Franklin, was arrested at 2:47 a.m. Saturday on charges of reckless operation of a motor vehicle, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
—Lydia June Cruz, 36, Frances Street, was arrested at 2:06 a.m. Monday on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia; on 16th Judicial District Court warrants alleging failure to appear for an imposition hearing and failure to appear for executory sentence; and as a fugitive from the Berwick Police Department.
—Eddie R. Sanchez, 31, Oriole Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:44 a.m. Friday on a warrant alleging criminal damage to property.
—Patrick A. Arabie, 52, Egle Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:31 a.m. Friday on a warrant alleging violation of a protective order.
—Bruno San Juan Herrera, 38, Beau Lane, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:27 p.m. Friday on charges of no driver’s license and improper lighting.
—Jerry Richard Forbes, 21, Terrebonne Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:59 p.m. Friday on a 6th Ward Morgan City Court warrant alleging two counts of failure to appear for trial.
—Barry Lee Jones, 34, Oriole Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:02 p.m. Friday on charges of entry or remaining after forbidden and criminal damage to property.
—Melanie Claire Poole, 38, Lietmeyer Street, New Iberia, was arrested at 2:48 a.m. Saturday on a charge of driving under suspension.
—Williams Adalid Canizales, 30, Federal Avenue, was arrested at 1:59 a.m. Sunday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), possession of an open alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle, careless operation, no driver’s license and no insurance.
—Jody Lynn Breaux, 40, Texaco Street, Pierre Part, was arrested at 4:08 a.m. Saturday on charges of driving while intoxicated (second offense) and improper lighting.
—Carl Joseph Dupas, 58, Iberia Street, New Iberia, was arrested at 9:07 a.m. Sunday on a 6th Ward Morgan City Court warrant alleging failure to appear for arraignment and a 16th Judicial District Court warrant alleging failure to appear for trial.
—Alfred James Daigle III, 21, Shaw Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:05 p.m. Sunday on charges of driving under suspension and improper lighting and as a fugitive from the Berwick Police Department.

St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 72-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 108 complaints and made these arrests:
—Tina Marie Weaver, 52, Amelia, was arrested at 1:45 p.m. Friday on charges of littering, possession of marijuana and possession of methamphetamines. Bail was set at $5,000.
—Clauderious Darby, 33, Lafayette, Texas, was arrested at 11:26 p.m. Friday on charges of driving left of center, driver must be licensed, no insurance, possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of crack cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a person under 17 years of age and no child restraint.
Darby was released on a $15,000 bond.
—Randy Mendoza, 46, Amelia, was arrested at 9:14 a.m. Friday on a warrant alleging burglary from a vehicle. Bail has not been set.
—Stacy Gerald Verdun, 51, Patterson, was arrested at 10 a.m. Saturday on a charge of resisting arrest or officer and on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. Bail was set at $8,720.25.
—Darius Dwyone Preston, 23, Baldwin, was arrested at 4:19 p.m. Saturday on two warrants alleging failure to appear on charges of illegal carrying of a weapon; operating a motorcycle, motor-driven cycle, or motorized bicycle without a safety helmet; careless operation of a motor vehicle; operating a vehicle while license is suspended; illegal possession or carrying of weapons; illegal use, possession or control of weapons; possession of or dealing in firearms with an obliterated number or mark and possession of marijuana (more than 14 grams).
Preston was released on an $8,700 bond.
—Coby Boyd, 31, Franklin, was arrested at 12:41 a.m. Sunday on charges of failure to dim headlights, resisting an officer by flight, open container and driving under suspension.
Boyd was released on a summons to appear June 15.
—Janna Mallory Gilmore, 36, Bayou Vista, was arrested at 6:08 p.m. Sunday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of Schedule II drugs, possession of Schedule III drugs, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in a drug-free zone and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Bail has not been set.

Berwick
Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported these arrests:
—Kendrick J. Williams, 35, La. 83, Franklin, was arrested at 3:49 p.m. Saturday on charges of possession of alprazolam, possession of marijuana, speeding 75 mph in a 55 mph zone and driving under suspension.
On Saturday, officers observed a vehicle traveling 75 mph in the posted 55 mph speed zone on U.S. 90 and conducted a traffic stop. The driver was identified as Williams, and a license check revealed that his driver’s license was suspended. During the course of the stop, Williams was found to be in possession of marijuana and alprazolam.
He was placed under arrest and booked into the Berwick Jail and later released on a $1,500 bond.
—Alfred J. Daigle III, 21, Shaw Drive, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:19 p.m. Sunday on a Berwick Police Department warrant alleging improper lane use, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
On Sunday, Daigle was located at the Morgan City Jail, and he was placed under arrest on the outstanding warrants that he held through the Berwick Police Department.
The warrant stems from a traffic stop that was conducted on Feb. 20, 2020, in which Daigle was found to be in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Daigle was booked into the Berwick Jail and released after posting a $3,750.00 bond.
—Juvenile, 17, Baton Rouge, was arrested at 3:24 a.m. Monday on a charge of possession of marijuana.
At 2:55 a.m. Monday, officers were dispatched to a business on Fifth Street in reference to a group of individuals standing outside the business. This particular business was closed at this time, which prompted the caller to report it to the police.
Officers arrived in the area just as the individuals were leaving in a vehicle, and an investigative traffic stop was conducted on the car. Through the investigation, the juvenile was found to be in possession of marijuana, and he was placed under arrest. He was processed at the Berwick Police Department, then released to a guardian pending juvenile court proceedings.
—Austin J. Vercher, 23, Cremo Lane, Patterson, was arrested at 2:15 p.m. Friday, on a Berwick Police Department warrant alleging molestation of a juvenile (victim under 13).
On March 2, the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office received an anonymous crime tip of a molestation of a juvenile that occurred in 2017 in Berwick. Detectives with the Berwick Police Department and the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office conducted a joint investigation into this incident.
Through investigation, detectives identified the suspect as Vercher. Detectives determined that Vercher was 18 years old and the victim was 12 years old at the time of the incident.
During an interview Friday, Vercher admitted to the allegations made against him. Berwick police detectives applied for and were granted an arrest warrant for Vercher.
He was subsequently placed under arrest on the warrant and booked into the Berwick Jail with bond set at $75,000.00. Vercher was later released after posting bond.
Due to the nature of the offense, no further information will be released regarding this complaint.
—Shawn C. Lovell, 44, River Road, Berwick, was arrested at 8:21 p.m. Friday on a Berwick Police Department warrant alleging failure to appear for leash law violation.
On Friday, Lovell was located at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center and was placed under arrest for the outstanding warrant. He was booked into the Berwick Jail and later released on an appearance bond.

Franklin
Police Chief Morris Beverly reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to 26 complaints over the past weekend and made these arrests:
—Quincy Jones, 58, TJ Hatherson Street, Baldwin, was arrested at 7 p.m. Friday on a warrant for 16th Judicial District Court alleging failure to appear on the charge of speeding. Jones was booked, processed and transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.
—Barrone Collins, 33, of Pecot Street, Franklin, was arrested at 9:22 p.m. Sunday on a warrant for 16th Judicial District Court alleging failure to appear on the charges of possession with the intent to distribute marijuana or synthetic cannabinoids, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession of (marijuana 14 grams or less).
Collins was booked, processed and transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.