Marijuana, cocaine charges follow weekend 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.)

Six people were arrested by St. Mary authorities and one by Berwick police on marijuana possession charges over the weekend, while Morgan City police made a cocaine possession arrest.

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:
—Moses Malik Charlot, 20, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:48 p.m. Friday on charge of possession of marijuana. Charlot was released on a summons to appear May 10.
—Rachelle Senette, 32, Abbeville, was arrested at 8:28 a.m. Sunday on charges of maximum speed limit, possession of marijuana, no child restraint, driving under suspension and illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of persons under 17.
Senette was released on a summons to appear May 10.
—Jermain Spain, 36, Franklin, was arrested at 1:08 p.m. Friday by the Narcotics Section on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Spain was released on a summons to appear May 10.
—Joshua Davila, 24, Baton Rouge, was arrested at 3 a.m. Sunday on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Davila was released on a summons to appear May 10.
—Jordyn McCoy, 20, Franklin, was arrested at 12:07 p.m. Friday by the Narcotics Section on charges of window tint violation and possession of marijuana. McCoy was released on a summons to appear May 10.
—Byron Sonia, 41, Franklin, was arrested at 1:05 p.m. Friday by the Narcotics Section on a charge of possession of marijuana and on a warrant alleging failure to comply with the terms and conditions of probation. Bond has not been set.
—Dwayne Freedman, 47, Franklin, was arrested at 12:22 p.m. Friday on charges of window tint violation and possession of synthetic cannabinoids. Freedman was released on a summons to appear May 10.
—Saul Francisco Garcilazo, 41, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:20 a.m. Friday on a Finney County, Oklahoma, warrant alleging probation violation (driving under the influence). Garcilazo is being held for another agency.
—Kendell Rene Fletcher, 41, Franklin, was arrested at 11:29 a.m. Friday on a leash law charge. Fletcher was released on a summons to appear May 10.
—Dustin Paul Fitch, 34, Franklin, was arrested at 1:39 p.m. Friday on charges of driving on roadway laned for traffic and driving under suspension. Fitch was released on a summons to appear May 10.
—Caleb Adam Thompson, 30, Patterson, was arrested at 1:31 p.m. Friday for parole violation. Thompson is being held for another agency.
—Rhondalyn Ronelvia Butler, 35, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:10 p.m. Saturday on two warrants alleging failure to appear charges of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, domestic abuse child endangerment, simple criminal damage to property and criminal mischief. Bail has not been set.
Bail has not been set.
—Andrew William Kovac Jr., 39, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:16 a.m. Saturday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of simple criminal damage to property. Bail has not been set.
—Clifton Joseph Vining Jr., 51, Patterson, was arrested at 3:33 p.m. Saturday on charges of simple battery and disturbing the peace (fighting) and on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of use of enhanced 911 emergency phone system. Bail has not been set.
—Marcus Demall Twiggs, 39, Houma, was arrested at 7:11 p.m. Saturday on charges of improper lane usage and driving under suspension. Twiggs was released on a summons to appear May 10.
—Lucas Mora-Carvajal, 32, Amelia, was arrested at 8:39 a.m. Saturday on a leash law charge. Mora-Carvajal was released on a summons to appear May 10.
Lavelle Normon, 47, Harvey, , was arrested at 8:47 a.m. Sunday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charges of speeding and no driver’s license. Normon was released on a $343.50 bond.
—Merlin Manson Venable, 58, Amelia, was arrested at 3:33 p.m. Sunday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of possession of cocaine. Bail has not been set.
—Janice Renee Carrington, 28, Morgan City, was arrested at 5:55 p.m. on a Patterson Police Department warrant alleging failure to appear on the charges of child restraint violation, speeding and driver’s license not on person. Bail has not been set.
—Corey Thomas Tarver, 44, Patterson, was arrested at 12:07 a.m. Monday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. Bail was set at $2,934.89.
—Lorenzo Harris, 36, Baldwin, was arrested at 10:59 a.m. Friday by the Narcotics Section on two warrants alleging possession with intent to distribute synthetic cannabinoids, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting and officer and possession of marijuana (14 grams or less).
Bail has not been set.

Morgan City
Police Chief James F. Blair reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 92 calls for service over the last 72-your reporting period and made these arrests beginning Friday:
—Dwayne Halford, 26, East 123rd Street, Galliano, was arrested at 9:59 a.m. Friday on a warrant alleging violation of a protective order.
—Erik Benjamin Carter, 31, Mallard Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:56 p.m. Friday 6th Ward Morgan City Court warrants alleging two counts of failure to appear for arraignment, failure appear to pay probation fee and failure to appear to pay fine.
—Chiquita Demetria Collins, 37, Short Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 5:19 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of cocaine, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance and child restraint required.
—Hubert Earl Williams, 56, Grand Caillou Road, Houma, was arrested at 9:32 p.m. Friday on a charge of disturbing the peace (intoxicated).
—James Freifeld, 41, Brashear Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:52 p.m. on a 16th Judicial Court warrant alleging three counts of failure to appear for trial.
—Malcome L. Patterson, 61, Karen Drive, was arrested at 2:33 a.m. Monday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), reckless operation of a motor vehicle and improper lane usage.

Berwick
Police Chief David Leonard reported these arrests:
—Kevein Willoughby, 51, Versen Street, Berwick, was arrested at 1:04 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor, violation of controlled dangerous substance laws (drug-free zone) possession of MDMA and domestic abuse battery (child endangerment).
On Friday, Berwick officers received a call through 911 advising that the police was needed on Versen Street. Officers attempted to make contact with someone and while doing so could hear screaming coming from inside. Officers eventually made contact with Willoughby.
It was learned that a disturbance had taken place in the residence and that illegal narcotics were involved. Inves-tigators learned that during the disturbance, Willoughby had struck the female occupant while holding a small child.
Willoughby was placed under arrest, and officers later located items of drug paraphernalia, marijuana and MDMA. Willoughby was later transported to the Berwick Jail, where he was booked on the charges. Willoughby remained incarcerated awaiting bond to be set.
—Leah Kern Nicar, 45, Federal Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:32 p.m. Friday on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, careless operation of a motor vehicle and flight from an officer.
About 10:55 p.m. Friday, Berwick officers were patrolling the area of La. 182 when they observed a vehicle cross the white fog line several times.
Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop on La. 182, but the vehicle continued to travel onto Bowman Street and then turned onto La. 182 East over the old bridge. The vehicle was eventually stopped on Brashear Avenue at Federal Avenue in Morgan City.
Officers made contact with the driver, who was identified as Nicar. During the course of the investigation, it was determined that Nicar had been drinking, and officers conducted a field sobriety test on which Nicar did poorly.
She was placed under arrest and transported to Berwick Police Department, where she failed to submit a proper sample for the state’s breath test. A search warrant was obtained and a blood sample was collected at a local medical facility with results pending at Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. Nicar was booked in to the Berwick Jail on the charges and later posted bond of $4,500 and was released.
—Kevin Gene Dontay, 36, Gabriel Street, Patterson, was arrested at 9:46 p.m. Saturday on charges of simple battery, disturbing the peace and resisting an officer.
About 9:45 p.m. Saturday, Berwick officers were patrolling the area of First Street when they came upon two male subjects possibly fighting in the street. Officers made contact with one of the subjects, who was identified as Dontay.
It was immediately obvious that Donaty was highly intoxicated, and he became very belligerent towards officers. It was learned that Dontay was harassing people who were attending a function at a local business when this started.
Officers attempted to place Dontay under arrest, at which point he resisted officers’ commands. After several attempts to place Dontay under arrest, assistance arrived and Dontay was taken into custody without further incident. Dontay was later transported to Berwick Police Department, where he was booked on the charges and remains incarcerated on a $1,003 cash bond.