Traffic stops lead to drug charges in St. Mary

(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.)

Traffic offenses led to drug charges for three people Tuesday, and a Morgan City man was arrested for failure to appear in court on cocaine and marijuana charges, police reports say.

St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 35 complaints and made these arrests:
—Christopher Demarco Barr, 39, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:19 p.m. Tuesday on two warrants alleging failure to appear on charges of possession of cocaine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a vehicle without a driver’s license, improper lane usage and theft of a motor vehicle.
Bail has not been set.
—Richard Isaiah Ruelas, 30, Morgan City, was arrested at 5:02 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and illegal use, consumption, possession or distribution of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of persons under 17.
Bail has not been set.
—Shane Allen Paul Sr., 34, Baldwin, was arrested at 10:47 p.m. Tuesday on charges of failure to dim headlights and possession of marijuana. Paul was released on a summons to appear Jan. 4.
—Darien Mitchell, 24, New Iberia, was arrested at 10:53 a.m. Tuesday by the Narcotics Section on charges of improper lane usage, driving under suspension, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance.
Bail has not been set.
—Juvenile male, 17, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:31 p.m. Tuesday on charges of second-degree battery and second-degree robbery. The boy was released into the custody of a guardian pending juvenile court proceedings.
—Joaquima Javon Brown, 27, Franklin, was arrested at 12:06 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear for court in Harris, Texas. Brown is being held for another agency.

Morgan City
Police Chief James F. Blair reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 43 calls for service within the last 24-hour reporting period and made these arrests:
—Jeffery Scott Lambert Jr., 24, La. 182, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:29 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of entry or remaining after being forbidden.
—Brittney Marie Topham, 20, Egle Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:29 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of entry or remaining after being forbidden.
—Clarence Junifer, 61, Federal Avenue, Morgan City, arrested at 10:31 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant alleging aggravated second-degree battery.

Berwick
Police Chief David Leonard reported this arrest:
--Jace Lodrigue, 22, Theriot Alley, Berwick was arrested at 2:17 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of domestic abuse battery.
--About 2:07 p.m. Tuesday, the Berwick Police Department responded to a residence on Theriot Alley for a disturbance. Officers met with the complainant and learned that Lodrigue was causing a disturbance with a family member.
During the argument, Jace committed a battery on his father. Lodrigue was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he was booked.

Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:
—Kennedy M. Breaux, 56, Verret Street, Pierre Part, was arrested Monday on charges of possession of marijuana (first offense), possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine and possession with intent to distribute oxycodone.
Narcotics agents, investigating illegal drug activity parishwide, determined that Breaux was involved in illegal drug activity in the Assumption Parish area.
Through investigation, agents established probable cause to secure a search warrant for an address on Verret Street.
On Monday evening, agents executed the search warrant and seized quantities of marijuana, methamphetamine, oxycodone and assorted drug paraphernalia.
Breaux was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center, with bond set at $125,000.
Additionally, Kimberly Latimer was cited for possession of drug paraphernalia and released with a court date.

Franklin
Police Chief Morris Beverly reported that the Franklin Police Department responded to 10 complaints over the past 24 hours and made this arrest:
—Hunter Boudreaux, 20, Bigler Street, Franklin, was arrested at 9:12 a.m. Tuesday on the charge of cyberstalking. Boudreaux was booked, processed and held on a $7,000 bond.