Three traffic stops result in heroin possession 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.)

Stops for traffic violations, two in Berwick and one in Bayou L’Ourse, resulted Tuesday in heroin possession charges, arrest reports say. One of the drug arrests followed a stop for driving 90 mph on westbound U.S. 90 in Berwick.

Berwick
Police Chief David Leonard reported these arrests:
—Kelsey D. Ventura, 33, Arc Road, Covington, was arrested at 6:18 a.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.
At 5:19 a.m. Tuesday, officers stopped a vehicle for speeding 90 mph in a 55 mph speed zone on westbound U.S. 90. Officers requested and were granted consent to search the vehicle.
Officers located methamphetamine, heroin and drug paraphernalia during the search and the passenger, identified as Ventura, said the drugs belonged to her.
During her arrest, she was found to be in possession of more methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Ventura was placed under arrest and booked into the Berwick Jail, where she remains with no bond set.
—Jessica L. Brasseaux, 36, Blythe Avenue, Alexandria, was arrested at 8:09 p.m. Tuesday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), three counts of possession of Xanax, possession of heroin and possession of drug paraphernalia.
At 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, officers responded to a call of an intoxicated driver who pulled into a business parking lot on U.S. 90. Officers arrived and met with the driver of the vehicle, identified as Brasseaux, and spoke with her about the complaint.
Brasseaux exhibited signs of impairment on narcotics, and she subsequently performed poorly on standardized field sobriety testing. She admitted to having heroin inside of the vehicle and a search of the car was conducted.
Officers located heroin, a pill bottle that contained Xanax and drug paraphernalia inside the car. Brasseaux could not produce a prescription for the medication.
She was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where she submitted a proper breath sample of .000g%BAC. She provided another sample, and those results are pending at the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab. Brasseaux remains in the Berwick Jail with no bond set.

Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:
—Gary Don Martin, 65, Bayou Boeuf Road, Amelia, was arrested Tuesday on charges of possession of heroin, possession of methamphetamine, driving under suspension and driving on roadway laned for traffic.
The charges followed a Tuesday evening traffic stop on Cecelia Street in Bayou L’Ourse.
An I.C.E. Unit deputy observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation and executed a stop of the vehicle. The deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Martin, and one passenger John Lucas Jr., 40, First Lane, Vacherie.
The deputy noted a strong odor of suspected marijuana emitting from the vehicle. After interviewing both occupants, the deputy decided that additional investigation was warranted.
A check of Martin’s driver’s license indicated that he was operating a vehicle with a suspended driver’s license.
A consent to search the vehicle was obtained. During the search process, quantities of heroin, methamphetamine and marijuana were seized.
Martin was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Facility pending a bond hearing.
Lucas was issued a misdemeanor summons for possession of marijuana and released.
—Three juveniles were charged in connection with two auto theft cases.
Sheriff’s deputies responded May 15 to an auto theft complaint in Labadieville. The vehicle was later recovered and returned to the victim. During the investigation, deputies learned that a monetary instrument belonging to the victim had been used to conduct a transaction that was not authorized by the victim.
On June 6, deputies responded to a location on La. 308 near Napoleonville in reference to an auto theft. That vehicle was recovered and returned to the victim.
During the ensuing investigation, three male juveniles were identified as suspects in the first case. A 16-year-old from Thibodaux, a 14-year-old from Gray and a 14-year-old from Thibodaux were charged by verified complaint. The 14-year-old from Gray was also charged with felony identify theft.
They were arrested June 16 and released to their guardians.
As a result of the investigation into the June auto theft, the 14-year-old juvenile from Thibodaux was charged by verified complaint with one count of felony theft of a motor vehicle June 15. The juvenile was released to a guardian.

Morgan City
Police Chief James F. Blair reported that over the last 24-hour period, the Morgan City Police Department responded to 48 calls for service and made these arrests beginning Tuesday.
—Tyrone F. Thomas, 57, Sixth Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:34 a.m. Tuesday on charges of driving under suspension and brake equipment required and on a warrant alleging failure to pay fine.
St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 38 complaints and made these arrests:
—Raymond Williams, 76, Bertrandville, was arrested at 12:37 p.m. Tuesday on charges of turning movements and required signals and driving under suspension. Williams was released on a summons to appear Sept. 1.
—Juvenile male, 14, Lafayette, was arrested at 2:37 p.m. Tuesday on charges of off-road vehicles/authorization of use, reckless operation (no accident) and resisting an officer by flight. The boy was released into the custody of a guardian pending juvenile court proceedings.
—Curtis Paul Gaudet Jr., 28, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:46 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of domestic abuse battery (strangulation). Bail has not been set.
—Sylvester Francois Jr., 23, Patterson, was arrested at 5:53 p.m. Tuesday by the Narcotics Section on Morgan City Police Department warrants alleging failure to appear on the charges of driving while intoxicated, resisting an officer, contempt of court, probation fees and fine. Francois was transferred to another agency.

St. Martin
Sheriff Becket Breaux reported these arrests:
—Corey Boudreaux, 48, Moon Street, Henderson, was arrested Tuesday on warrants alleging failure to appear.
—Aryn Drake, 54, Chawee, Breaux Bridge, was arrested Tuesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear.
—Logan Hyatt, 33, Grand Anse Highway, Breaux Bridge, was arrested Tuesday on charges of stalking and telephone communications/improper language/harassment.
—Blaize McGee, 25, Range Road, Lafayette, was arrested Tuesday by the Henderson Police Department on a warrant alleging failure to appear.