Police: Two men caught in Morgan City with stolen catalytic converters

(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.)

Two men were captured on surveillance video, and then captured for real, during an attempt to steal a catalytic converter from a business vehicle in Morgan City, according to arrest reports.

Morgan City
Police Chief James F. Blair reported that over the last 24-hour period, the Morgan City Police Department responded to 43 calls for service and made these arrests beginning Wednesday:
—Jimmy J. Gros, 50, Lantanier Street, Krotz Springs, was arrested at 3:42 a.m. Thursday on charges of theft ($1,000-$5,000) and criminal damage to property ($1,000-$5,000).
—Lee Covington, 41, La. 741, Arnaudville, was arrested at 3:42 a.m. Thursday on charges of theft ($1,000-$5,000) and criminal damage to property ($1,000-$5,000).
On Wednesday, the Morgan City Police Department responded to a local business on Front Street about a catalytic converter missing from one of the company vehicles. The incident was captured on video surveillance, and it was used to develop descriptions of the suspects involved.
Through further investigation, a search warrant was obtained for a room at a local motel on La. 182. Located inside the room were two individuals identified as Gros and Covington. Also located in the room were several catalytic converters.
Both Gros and Covington were placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking and incarceration.
—Jadaveron Jennings, 27, Russel Street, Patterson, was arrested at 1:13 a.m. Thursday on charges of simple kidnapping and domestic abuse battery.
Officers responded to a residence on Gen. MacArthur Street in regards to a domestic disturbance. Information was received that the suspect, Jennings, had left the area with the victim in a vehicle, possibly headed to Patterson.
The Patterson Police Department was contacted and given a description of the vehicle. Patterson officers located the vehicle on Bridge Road. A traffic stop was conducted and Jennings was placed under arrest.
The victim was unharmed. Jennings was then transported to the Morgan City Police Department for booking
—Latisha S. Davis, 40, Pugh Street, Paincourville, was arrested at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant alleging hit and run.
—Magan R. Gaudet, 29, Parro Lane, Berwick, was arrested at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday on a City Court of Morgan City warrant alleging seven counts of failure to pay fines.
—Charles J. Smith, 40, Jackson, Mississippi, was arrested at 3:25 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant alleging theft under $1,000 and illegal use of a counterfeit trademark.

St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 48 complaints and made these arrests:
—Timothy Van Truong, 26, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:31 p.m. Wednesday on charges of interfering with child custody, resisting an officer by giving false information, and resisting arrest or officer. Bail has not been set.
—Kenneth John McQuiston, 61, Morgan City, was arrested at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and operating a vehicle with improper stop lamps.
No bail has been set.
—Dakota Sauce, 23, Franklin, was arrested at 7:37 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of theft and was released on a summons to appear Sept. 1. Sauce was arrested at 8:11 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of criminal trespass.
A deputy was dispatched to a residence in Franklin and made contact with a person who stated that Sauce had taken some personal items without permission. The deputy made contact with Sauce, and he admitted to taking the items and had them on his person.
A short time later, the deputy was dispatched to a residence in the Calumet area and spoke to the complainant, who stated that Sauce had come to the residence and attempted to force his way inside.
The deputy traveled to another location, made contact with Sauce and transported him to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. No bail has been set.
—Ren Rogers, 18, St. Amant, was arrested at 1:35 a.m. Thursday on charges of turning movements and required signals, switched license plate/stolen license plate and no insurance. Rogers was released on a summons to appear Oct. 7.
—Deandre Dwayne Youman, 22, Baldwin, was arrested at 2:20 a.m. Thursday on a charge of possession of marijuana. Youman was released on a summons to appear Oct. 7.
—Courtney Phillips, 33, Franklin, was arrested at 5:44 p.m. Wednesday by the Narcotics Section on a charge of possession of marijuana. Phillips was released on a summons to appear Oct. 7.
—Demondre Wiggins, 30, Franklin, was arrested at 3:58 p.m. Wednesday by the Narcotics Section on charges of improper lane use and possession of a firearm or carrying concealed weapon by a person convicted of certain felonies, and on two warrants alleging failure to appear on the charges of possession of synthetic cannabinoids and failure to use seat belt. Wiggins was released on a $3,000 bond.
—Earl Charles, 29, Franklin, was arrested at 4:38 p.m. Wednesday by the Narcotics Section on charges of window tint violation and possession of marijuana. Charles was released on a summons to appear Oct. 7.

Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:
—Alton Cody Jamaal Jupiter, 30, La. 401, Napoleonville, was arrested Wednesday on charges of possession of marijuana (second offense), aggravated flight from an officer, obstruction of justice, following too closely, driving with a suspended driver’s license and driving on roadway laned for traffic.
The arrest resulted from a Wednesday evening traffic incident near Napoleonville.
A uniformed patrol officer observed a southbound vehicle commit a traffic violation and initiated a stop of the violator. As the deputy attempted to make contact with the driver, the suspect sped away, engaging the deputy into a pursuit.
The pursuit eventually went into a northbound direction, attaining speeds of 140 mph.
At some point, the suspect was observed throwing items suspected to be contraband out of a window.
The pursuit eventually ended on La. 401 and the suspect, identified as Jupiter, was arrested.
A K-9 alerted to suspect illegal controlled dangerous substance in the suspect vehicle.
As a result of the search of that vehicle, suspected marijuana was recovered.
Jupiter was booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center pending a bond hearing.
—John Paul Heims, 36, Dogwood Lane, Labadieville, was arrested Tuesday on charges of unlawful use of body armor, simple burglary, simple criminal damage to property and criminal trespass, and as a fugitive from the Louisiana State Police on a charge of forgery.
Deputies were dispatched to the 100 block of Violet Street in Labadieville about a disturbance.
Deputies noted a number of vehicles in the street as well as several people who were engaged in some form of verbal dispute. Deputies spoke to the complainant, who advised that Heims had broken into a shed and said he was looking for his stolen ATV.
The complainant also noted that when Heims arrived, he was dressed with body armor covering the torso area.
Deputies located Heims at the scene and conducted an interview of him. Following that interview, Heims was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Facility. He was released on a $40,000 bond.

St. Martin
Sheriff Becket Breaux reported this arrest:
—Thomas Breaux, 47, Adley Wyatt Road, Butte Larose, was arrested Wednesday on a charge of failure to register as a sex offender.