Drug arrests reported by local agencies

(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.)

Arrests for possession of marijuana, methamphetamine and MDMA over the weekend were reported by agencies across the region.
A Morgan City man was also arrested on charges of battery on a dating partner and aggravated assault after making a threat with a knife.

Morgan city
Police Chief James F. Blair reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 123 complaints over the last 72-hour reporting period and made these arrests beginning Friday:
—Christopher Lee Lacaze, 42, La. 182, Morgan City, arrested at 11:34 p.m. Sunday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia, and on a warrant alleging failure to appear to pay fine July 20.
Officers responded to the area of Fourth Street in regards to a disturbance. Lacaze was identified as on the parties involved. Lacaze was found to be in possession of suspected marijuana, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. Lacaze also held an active arrest warrant through the 6th Ward Morgan City Court. Lacaze was booked into the Morgan City Jail and incarcerated.
—Irvian Adam Singleton III, 22, Cypress Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:36 p.m. Sunday on charges of aggravated assault on a dating partner and unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling and on a warrant alleging aggravated cruelty to animals.
Officers responded to the area of Egle Street in regards to a disturbance. Officers arrived and Singleton was identified as one of the parties involved. Singleton allegedly attempted to commit a battery on the victim with a knife.
Singleton was also found to hold an active arrest warrant through the Morgan City Police Department for aggravated cruelty to animals.
The warrant stems from an investigation conducted by the Morgan City Police Department in September 2019 in which Singleton allegedly left several different reptiles in a residence without any care, which resulted in the death of the animals. Singleton was arrested and transported to the Morgan City Jail where he was booked and incarcerated.
—Carl Wayne Allen Jr., 29, Wren Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:40 p.m. Friday on warrants alleging criminal damage to property (less than $1,000) and failure to appear for trial on Feb. 11 (seven counts).
—Quijakius Johnson, 39, Apple Street, Morgan City, was arrested 9:41 a.m. Saturday on a warrant alleging failure to appear to pay fines Aug. 3.
—Rachel Lynn King, 37, Fifth Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 6:26 p.m. Sunday on a charge of disturbing the peace (intoxicated).
—Kenneth R. Rhodes Sr., 75, Roderick Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:19 p.m. Sunday on a charge of driving while intoxicated (first offense).

Berwick
Police Chief David Leonard reported these arrests:
—Russell Romero Jr., 20, La. 182, Franklin, was arrested at 12:59 a.m. Saturday on a charge of possession of marijuana (under 14 grams).
About 12: 47 a.m. Saturday, an officer observed a vehicle speeding 62 mph in a 30 mph zone. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle. During the course of the stop, Romero was identified as a passenger in the vehicle.
An odor of marijuana was detected by officers, and Romero admitted to having marijuana in his pocket. Romero was placed under arrest and released on a summons to appear in court.
—Cassidy McDaniel, 27, Eve Road, Erath, was arrested at 2:12 p.m. Saturday on a charge of simple battery.
About 12:04 p.m. Saturday, the Berwick Police Department received a call of a disturbance taking place at a residence on River Road. It was learned that McDaniel had committed a battery on a juvenile. McDaniel was placed under arrest and released on a summons to appear in court.
—Davontez Simmons, 19, Sherin Avenue, Boutte, was arrested at 10:11 p.m. Sunday on charges of speeding, driving under suspension, possession of marijuana under 14 grams and switched license plate.
About 9:50 p.m. Sunday, an officer observed a vehicle speeding 75 mph in a 55 mph zone on U.S. 90. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle, and officers made contact with the driver Simmons.
While speaking with Simmons, officers detected an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. A search of the vehicle was conducted, at which time marijuana was located, and Simmons admitted it belonged to him.
A driver’s license check showed his license to be suspended. It was also learned that the license plate displayed on the vehicle belonged to another vehicle. Simmons was placed under and released on a summons to appear in court.

St. Mary
Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that over the last 72-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 134 complaints and made these arrests:
—Amber O’Connor, 41, Patterson, was arrested at 10:13 a.m. Friday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. O’Connor was released on a summons to appear Nov. 2.
—Verelyn Benjamin Cannon, 62, Morgan City, was arrested at 11:54 a.m. Friday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and improper turn or failure to give required signal. Cannon was released on a summons to appear Nov. 2.
—Blake Jacoby Smith, 30, Patterson, was arrested at 3:01 p.m. Friday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charges of possession of marijuana, improper turn or failure to give required signal, and flight from an officer. Smith was released on a summons to appear Nov. 2.
—Kenneth Johnson Jr., 27, Lafayette, was arrested at 3:49 p.m. Friday on a charge of possession of marijuana. Johnson was released on a summons to appear Nov. 2.
—Mary D. Edwards, 29, Patterson, was arrested at 4:12 p.m. Friday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of operating a vehicle while license is suspended, revoked or canceled. Edwards was released on a summons to appear Nov. 2.
—Ramiro Gonzalez, 34, Houma, was arrested at 9:17 a.m. Saturday on charges of maximum speed limit, no insurance and driver must be licensed. Gonzalez was released on a summons to appear Nov. 2.
—Miguel Lee Dauphine, 26, Jeanerette, was arrested at 11:52 a.m. Sunday on charges of lane usage and driving under suspension. Dauphine was released on a summons to appear Nov. 2.
—Harold Bogen Jr., 20, Houma, was arrested 3:48 p.m. Sunday charges of procedure on approach of an authorized emergency vehicle, driver must be licensed, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance.
Bogen was released on a $7,500 bond.
—Shatiah Bolden, 23, Denham Springs, was arrested at 4:38 p.m. Saturday on charges of improper display of license plate and switched or stolen license plate. Bolden was also wanted in East Baton Rouge Parish on the charges of aggravated flight from officer, speeding (two counts) and driving under suspension.
Bail was set on the St. Mary charges at $750 and a hold was placed on Bolden for another agency.
—Jamarkus Anthony James, 30, New Iberia, was arrested at 8:11 p.m. Saturday on charges of off-road vehicles on a public highway and aggravated flight from officer, and on a warrant alleging failure to appear on the charge of unlawful operation of an off-road vehicle. James was released on a $3,500 bond.
—Matthew Blanks, 39, Franklin, was arrested at 10:37 p.m. Sunday on a charge of driving under suspension. Blanks was released on a summons to appear Nov. 2.

Assumption
Sheriff Leland Falcon reported these arrests:
— Shane Michelle Hebert, 29, Sycamore Street, Labadieville, was arrested Sunday on charges of speeding, driving under suspension, insurance required, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine.
The arrest followed a traffic stop early Sunday on La. 70 East.
A uniformed patrol deputy observed a vehicle commit a traffic violation and initiated a stop. The deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Hebert. The deputy conducted an interview of the driver and during that process, determined that Hebert was driving under a suspended driver’s license.
At some point during the interview, the deputy noted behavior consistent with drug law activity.
The deputy conducted a search of the suspect vehicle and did seize a quantity of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.
Hebert was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center and remains incarcerated with a bond set at $50,000.
— Alfred Joseph Starks Jr., 30, Maple Street, Labadieville, was arrested Saturday on charges of possession of MDMA (ecstasy), no driver’s license and proper equipment required on vehicles.
A uniformed patrol deputy observed a southbound vehicle with an equipment violation. The deputy conducted a stop of the vehicle and initiated contact with the driver.
During the interview, the deputy noted an odor of suspected marijuana emitting from the vehicle. The deputy observed, in plain view, a package on the floor board containing suspected MDMA (ecstasy). The illegal drugs were seized.
Starks was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center and remains incarcerated with a bond set at $75,000.