Police: Two teens caught with marijuana

Two teens were arrested Monday in Morgan City after police found marijuana during a traffic stop, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—Braxton Fontenot, 17, of Parlange Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:24 a.m. Monday on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute and possession of drug paraphernalia.

—Tavis Johnson, 19, of Allison Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:24 a.m. Monday on charges of improper lane use, vehicles without required equipment, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana first offense.

An officer patrolling the area of Justa Street saw a vehicle with a caved windshield. The officer conducted a traffic stop on La. 182 and spoke with the driver. When the officer spoke with the driver, he could smell an odor of marijuana, Blair said.

During the investigation, the officer located suspected marijuana on Johnson who admitted that he does smoke marijuana, Blair said. Officers then spoke with the passenger, Fontenot, and located suspected marijuana on him. The marijuana located on Fontenot was packaged in individual bags, Blair said.

During the search of the vehicle, officers also located suspected drug paraphernalia. Both Johnson and Fontenot were jailed.

Blair reported that officers responded to 34 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Gordon Helman , 49, of Chester Bowles Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:21 a.m. Monday on charges of hit-and-run and criminal damage to property less than $1,000.

Helman was arrested after an investigation into a Friday vehicle crash. The accident on Second Street in Morgan City caused damage to a utility trailer and a utility pole. When officers arrived on scene, they were told that the driver had fled the scene. Officers searched the area but could not locate the driver.

On Monday, Helman spoke with detectives and admitted that he was driving the vehicle and fled the scene, Blair said. Helman was jailed.

—Juan Manuel Zuniga, 42, of Tatum, Texas, was arrested at 10 p.m. Monday on charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated first offense and driving on divided highways.

An officer saw a vehicle which was traveling on La. 182 cross the center line several times. The officer stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver, identified as Zuniga.

The officer could smell alcohol while speaking with Zuniga, who did poorly on a field sobriety test, Blair said. Zuniga registered 0.08 grams-percent blood alcohol content on a chemical test. Zuniga was jailed.

—Sylvia Carrera, 28, of Opelousas, was arrested at 2:21 a.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of Adderall, possession of marijuana first offense and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Officers at a motel could smell the odor of marijuana coming from a room. The officers spoke with the occupants of the room and were given consent to search.

During the search, police located suspected marijuana in the room along with suspected paraphernalia, Blair said. While speaking with Carrera, officers located seven pills of suspected Adderall for which Carrera did not have a prescription, Blair said. Carrera was jailed.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Scott Anslum reported that deputies responded to 54 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:

—Victoria Cavalier, 19, of La. 182 in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:57 p.m. Monday on a charge of theft.

A deputy was dispatched to a business in Bayou Vista in reference to a theft. Upon arrival at the business, the deputy made contact with store personnel and Cavalier.

Cavalier admitted that she had taken several items the day before while in the business, Anslum said. Cavalier was jailed with bail set at $1,500.

—Danyelle Morgan, 33, of River Road in Berwick, was arrested at 1:28 a.m. Tuesday on charges of suspended driver’s license, license plate light and security required.

Deputies patrolling the area of Berwick observed a vehicle with no operational license plate light. The deputies conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Morgan.

Through the stop, the deputies learned that Morgan’s license was suspended and she didn’t have insurance on the vehicle, Anslum said. Morgan was released on a summons to appear in court Jan. 30, 2019.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrest:

—Joshua Moore, 21, of Camille Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 6:15 p.m. Monday on a warrant charging him with simple battery. He was jailed on $250 bail.

Patterson Police Chief Janis Merritt reported no arrests.