Two young teens arrested in Berwick church burglary

(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.)

A 13-year-old and a 14-year-old have been arrested and accused of burglarizing a church and vandalizing Pharr Park, Berwick police said.

Also, Assumption Parish authorities report the arrest of a juvenile in the threat discovered Nov. 30 at Pierre Part Elementary.

Berwick

Police Chief David S. Leonard reported these arrests:

--Juvenile male, 13, Berwick, was arrested at 3:01 p.m. Friday on two counts of simple burglary, intentional vandalism (under $500) and simple criminal damage to property (under $1,000).

--Juvenile male, 14, Berwick, was arrested at 3:01 p.m. Friday on two counts of simple burglary, intentional vandalism (under $500) and simple criminal damage to property (under $1,000).

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, officers responded to several complaints concerning burglaries and vandalisms occurring at a church and at Pharr Park.

The first call was received on Thanksgiving evening regarding a church that had been burglarized. Officers determined that a window was busted on a rear door and entry was made into the church, but nothing was stolen.

A second building on the property was found to have been burglarized as well and although it was rummaged through, nothing was stolen from there. While processing the scene, officers located physical evidence at the scene that could aid with identifying the suspects.

The next call was received the morning of Nov. 25 regarding a vandalism that occurred at Pharr Park. Responding officers found that the suspects destroyed a large number of Christmas decorations at the park.

The last call was received on Sunday morning, Nov. 27. The same church that had been burglarized had another window busted out in the rear, but entry was not made this time.

Detectives began following up on this matter and through investigative means, were able to identify two juvenile suspects. Both were questioned at the Police Department and both admitted to burglarizing the church and damaging the decorations at the park.

The evidence recovered at the church was linked to one of the juveniles. During the investigation, two other juveniles were identified as possible suspects, but through further investigation and interviews, they were eliminated as suspects.

Warrants were prepared for the two juveniles arrests and on Dec. 2, they were arrested. They were processed at the Berwick Police Department and released to their guardians pending juvenile court proceedings.

Leonard would like to remind everyone that if you are to see what you believe as suspicious activity taking place, please call the Berwick Police Department. “If you see something, say something,” he said.

Morgan City

Police Chief Chad M. Adams reported that Morgan City Police Department responded to 144 calls for service over the last 96-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Irvin Tyric Celestine III, 22, Cypremort Road, Franklin, was arrested at 2:05 p.m. Thursday on a charge of failure to appear for arraignment (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Lacie Black, 28, Maple Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:17 p.m. Friday on a warrant alleging terrorizing.

--Casey Nicole Francois, 36, Railroad Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:46 p.m. Friday on a charge of failure to appear for arraignment (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Vernon James Robinson Jr., 36, Chennault Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:26 p.m. Friday on charges of stop signs and yield signs and operating a vehicle with a suspended license, and on five warrants alleging failure to appear to pay fine and failure to appear for arraignment (all from 6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Keith Crappell, 67, Headland Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:29 Saturday on charges of manufacturing or distributing marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law (drug-free zone) and transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses.

--George Randall Newlin, 69, La. 70, Stephensville, was arrested at 1:19 p.m. Saturday on charges of possession of marijuana (over 14 grams), illegal carrying of weapons and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law (drug-free zone).

--Raymond Lee Gautreaux, 29, Bridge Road, Patterson, was arrested at 2:43 p.m. Sunday on warrants alleging failure to appear to pay probation fine and failure to appear to pay fine (both 6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Randy Lee Hatcher, 43, Aucoin Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:27 p.m. Sunday on charges of disturbing the peace (intoxicated), simple assault, resisting arrest or officer, and remaining where forbidden.

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 72-hour reporting period, the Sheriff's Office responded to 116 complaints and made these arrests:

--Derek Moses Gaskins, 43, Amelia, was arrested at 12:52 p.m. Friday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of operating a vehicle while license is suspended, revoked, or canceled; modified exhaust; and aggravated assault with a firearm.

Gaskin was released on a $6,000 bond.

--Don Michael Fryou, 34, Gibson, was arrested at 4:59 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, and on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of operating a vehicle while license is suspended, revoked or canceled.

--James Cameron McFarland, 37, Morgan City, was arrested at 7:10 p.m. Saturday on an Assumption Parish warrant simple criminal damage to property. McFarland is being held for another agency.

--Samantha Jo Sargee, 38, Patterson, was arrested at 4:03 a.m. Sunday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of unauthorized use of an access card. Bail is set at $1,500.

--Michael Wade McFarland, 68, New Iberia, was arrested at 4:26 p.m. Sunday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated and possession of alcoholic beverages in a motor vehicle. Bail has not been set.

--Mikelyn Kaye Antoine, 25, Jeanerette, was arrested at 10:33 p.m. Sunday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charges of possession of marijuana and possession of alprazolam. Bail has not been set.

Patterson

Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported this arrest:

– Alvin Cook, 67, Anderson Street, Franklin, was arrested at 3:27 p.m. Friday on charges of speeding 45 mph in a 35 zone, driving with license revoked or suspended, expired license plate and no seat belt. Cook was issued a summons.

Assumption

Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:

--Juvenile, 14, was arrested Thursday on a charge of terrorizing.

The 14-year-old male was in connection with the threatening note found Nov. 30 at the Pierre Part Elementary School.

After a thorough search of the school, the sheriff said, no weapons were found. There were no acts in furtherance of the threat and the school is back to its normal operating procedures.

The juvenile in question will be released to the custody of his parents.

Any discipline measures will be handled by the school administration.

Falcon commends all who worked diligently to move this matter to conclusion and to all students and staff for their cooperation.

--Shara Samantha Cabellero, 37, La. 401, Napoleonville, was arrested Sunday on a charge of domestic abuse (aggravated assault with child endangerment).

On Oct. 28, deputies responded to a complaint in Pierre Part in connection with a domestic incident.

Deputies interviewed the complainant who advised that he was at a local retail outlet with a friend when his wife arrived and attempted to run him over with her car. Deputies interviewed a witness and reviewed video footage of the incident.

At the conclusion of those interviews, deputies obtained an arrest warrant for the complainant’s wife, now identified as Cabellero. The suspect had already left the scene.

Cabellero was arrested on Sunday and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center.

At the time of the incident, two children were present.

Cabellero remains incarcerated pending bond proceedings.