Traffic stop leads to marijuana charge for Jeanerette man

(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.)

Driving violations led to a marijuana possession charge Tuesday for a Jeanerette man, according to the St. Martin Parish Sheriff’s Office.

St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 38 complaints and reported these arrests:
—Dwayne Jamon Provost, 38, Jeanerette, was arrested at 12:03 p.m. Tuesday on charges of no passing zones, turning movements and required signals, aggravated flight from officer, aggravated obstruction of highway, and possession of marijuana.
Provost was also named in a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. Bail has not been set.
—Jason Mullins, 43, Franklin, was arrested at 8:05 p.m. Tuesday on charges of turning movements and required signals, stop signs/yield signs, and driving under suspension. Mullins was released on a summons to appear Feb. 3.
—Shane Joseph Granger, 34, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:26 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of possession of marijuana. Granger also was arrested on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the following charges of operating a vehicle while license is suspended, improper lane usage, operating a vehicle not covered by security, improper child restraint and failure to secure vehicle registration.
Bail has not been set.
—Louis James Ross, 41, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:36 p.m. Tuesday on charges of open container, aggravated assault and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail has not been set.

Morgan City
Police Chief James F. Blair reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 45 calls for service within the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests beginning Tuesday:
—Josue B Avilez-Ortiz, 29, Chennault Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:50 p.m. Tuesday on a 6th Ward Morgan City Court warrant alleging failure to appear for trial July 30.
—Nico Queintrell Skipper, 32, Dora Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:34 p.m. Tuesday on a 6th Ward Morgan City Court warrant alleging four counts of failure to appear to pay fine June 1.

Franklin
Police Chief Morris Beverly said the Franklin Police Department responded to six complaints over the past 24 hours and made these arrests:
—Bernard Babino, 47, Ninth Street, Franklin, was arrested at 6:04 p.m. Tuesday on the charges of simple battery and resisting an officer by failure to comply. Babino was booked, processed and held on a $5,000 bond.
—Ingrid Jack, 31, Blakesley Street, Franklin, was arrested at 7:13 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant dated Oct. 27 alleging disturbing the peace (fighting) and obstructing a public passage. Jack was booked, processed and released on a $2,000 bond.

Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:
—Austin Wade Bercegeay, 23, Ridgeland Drive, Denham Springs, was arrested Monday on charges of speeding 86 mph in a 55 mph zone, driving under a suspended driver’s license and possession with intent to distribute marijuana.
The charges resulted from a Monday evening traffic stop on La. 70 in Pierre Part.
A uniformed patrol deputy/K-9 unit observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation westbound on La. 70. The deputy initiated a stop of that vehicle and made contact with the driver identified as Bercegeay.
The deputy noted a pungent odor of suspected marijuana emitting from the vehicle. It was determined that the driver was operating his vehicle with a suspended driver’s license.
After the interview, the deputy concluded that additional investigation was warranted.
The deputy positioned his K-9 and conducted an open-air sniff of the suspect vehicle. The K-9 alerted positive for the presence of controlled dangerous substances. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of a significant quantity of suspected marijuana.
Bercegeay was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center and released on a $5,000 bond.
—Jean Newby, 55, North Main Street, Mooresville, North Carolina, was arrested Oct. 14 on charges of theft, bank fraud, monetary instrument abuse and illegal transmission of monetary funds.
The charges resulted from a series of financial transactions that were conducted when the victim attempted to sell a vehicle through Craig’s List in November 2019.
Deputies initially investigated the complaint and at some point, it was followed up by detectives.
During the initial stages of what was supposed to be a sale, the victim reported that he was notified by a financial institution that the check he received was fraudulent.
Through a lengthy investigation, Newby was identified as a suspect in the scheme.
Through the investigation, detectives determined Jean Newby had been arrested in the past for a similar scheme in North Carolina.
Detectives issued arrest warrants for Newby.
Newby was arrested in North Carolina on or about Oct. 14. She was transferred to Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office, at which time she was booked Monday with bond set at $80,000.