Berwick man accused of selling marijuana

(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.)

Berwick police reported a drug arrest in which the charges included possession with intent to distribute.

St. Mary deputies also arrested two Bayou Vista 14-year-olds and accused them of 10 counts of vehicle burglary and two counts of possession of stolen weapons.

Berwick

Chief David S. Leonard reported these arrests:

--Jordan Gant, 34, Berwick was arrested on at 6:27 a.m. Thursday on charges of possession with intent to distribute marijuana (over 28 grams), possess of crack cocaine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of a drug-free zone, and on a St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant alleging criminal neglect of family.

Within the past several weeks, investigators with the Berwick Police Department and St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office began an investigation into the illicit sales of illegal narcotics from a residence in Berwick. During this time, Gant was identified as the suspect.

On Thursday, investigators executed a search warrant at Gant’s residence and located marijuana, crack cocaine, methamphetamine, and items of drug paraphernalia.

Evidence was uncovered through the investigation linking Gant to the items and selling of marijuana. The area where the residence was located is within a drug-free zone.

Gant was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he was booked.

Leonard thanked neighboring agencies for their continued support and assistance in these types of investigations when called upon.

--Vontasia Boyd, 17, Morgan City, was arrested at 8:40 a.m. Aug. 30 on two counts of battery of a school teacher.

About 8:19 a.m. Aug. 30, the Berwick Police Department school resource officer was notified of a situation that took place at one of the local schools. Through the investigation, it was learned that teachers were attempting to break up a physical altercation with Boyd, at which time she struck two teachers in the process.

Boyd was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where she was booked.

--Namus Rhine, 34, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:59 a.m. Sept. 2 on charges of possession of methamphetamine, driving under suspension and improper lane usage.

About 11:54 p.m. Sept. 1, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle after a lane violation was observed. Officers made contact with Rhine and learned that his driver’s license was suspended.

Through the course of the stop, Rhine gave consent for officers to search his vehicle. During this time, methamphetamine was located inside the vehicle. A search of his person was conducted where more suspected methamphetamine was found.

Rhine was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department where he was booked.

--Elizabeth Rupe, 19, Thibodaux, was arrested at 3:38 p.m. Sept. 2 on charges of possession of marijuana (under 14 grams) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

About 3:23 p.m. Sept. 2, a traffic stop was conducted on a vehicle after it was observed speeding 76 mph in a 60 mph zone. Officers made contact with Rupe, and while speaking with her a strong odor of marijuana was detected coming from the vehicle.

A search of the vehicle was done at which time marijuana and items of drug paraphernalia were located. Rupe was placed under arrest and released on a summons to appear in court.

--Aurelio Cruz-Cabrere, 33, Morgan City, was arrested at 2 p.m. Sept. 4 on an Iberia Parish warrants alleging failure to appear on charges of domestic abuse battery.

About 1:30 p.m. Sept. 4, while handling a separate complaint, officers made contact with Cruz-Cabrere. It was learned that he had active warrants through Iberia Parish. Cruz-Cabrere was placed under arrest and booked on the outstanding warrants.

Following booking, Cruz-Cabrere was transported to Iberia Parish.

--Clifford Decuir, 54, Patterson, was arrested at 4:34 p.m. Sept. 4 on a Berwick warrant alleging simple battery.

About 1:30 p.m. Sept. 4, officers were dispatched to the lobby of the Berwick Police Department for a complaint of a battery that was committed. Officers spoke with the victim, who said his employer struck him in the face after a verbal altercation.

Through the course of the investigation, Decuir was identified as the suspect. Warrants were obtained for his arrest, and he was located by the Patterson Police Department later that afternoon.

Decuir was placed under arrest and transported to the Berwick Police Department, where he was booked.

St. Mary

Sheriff Gary Driskell reported these arrests:

--Two juvenile males, 14, Bayou Vista, were arrested at 10:37 a.m. Sunday on charges of 10 counts of burglary from a vehicle, two counts of theft of a firearm, two counts of illegal possession of stolen firearms, possession of stolen thing, two counts of illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile, theft of a motor vehicle, unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and driver must be licensed.

On Sunday, a K9 deputy was dispatched to a residence in Bayou Vista in reference to a parent who contacted dispatch and reported that her son and his friend possibly committed several vehicle burglaries in the Bayou Vista area.

The K9 deputy met with the complainant and the mother of the second juvenile, who stated that she received evidence that showed her son and his friend had possibly committed the vehicle burglaries.

The two juveniles said they broke into “at least 25 vehicles” in the Bayou Vista area. Through the investigation, the deputies retrieved stolen property and other evidence.

The two juveniles were arrested and transported to the SMPSO Branch Office for processing.

--Iylan Lee Groves, 17, Patterson, was arrested at 12:19 p.m. Friday on a charge of domestic abuse battery. Groves was released on a $1,000 bond.

--Luis Enrique Pineda-Zarala, 21, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:05 a.m. Saturday on charges of reckless operation (no accident) and failure to change address within 10 days. Pineda-Zarala was released on a $750 bond.

--Jose Lisandro Barajas-Birrueta, 32, Patterson, was arrested at 11:26 p.m. Friday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on a charge of violation of a protective order. Bail was set at $5,000.

--Ronald Paul Hawkins Jr., 41, Franklin, was arrested at 6:21 p.m. Sept. 4 on charges of illegal lane usage, possession of synthetic cannabinoids, possess of Schedule I drugs and possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance.

Hawkins was released on a $10,000 bond.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported these arrests:

--Wacey P Goodfriend, 33, Brantley Street, Dequincy, was arrested at 2:56 p.m. Friday on a charge of aggravated battery.

--Christopher Reeves, 37, Smokey Cove Road, Singer, was arrested at 2:56 p.m. Friday on charges of simple battery and resisting an officer.

--Tiffany Meador, 36, Moss Wood Drive, Sulphur, was arrested at 2:56 p.m. Friday on charges of simple battery and resisting an officer.

--Randasha Terion Grogan, 23, Joseph Street, Amelia, was arrested at 6:51 p.m. Friday on a charge of failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City).

--Brian Anthony Gaskin, 39, Degravelle Road, Amelia, was arrested at :50 a.m. Saturday on charges of failure to appear for trial (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Ray Landry, 33, South Hospital Drive, Abbeville, was arrested at 3:37 p.m. Saturday on charges of stop sign, no driver’s license and possession of marijuana (first offense). (Released on summons.)

--Jessie Henry, L Theriot Road, New Iberia, was arrested at 7:50 p.m. Saturday on charges of possession of Adderall, possession of marijuana, failure to signal, driving under suspension and seat belt required.

--Rene Landry, 65, Brashear Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 6:09 p.m. Sunday on a charge of open burning. (Released on summons.)

--Alfred Francois, 60, Duke Street, Morgan City, was arrested on at 9:36 p.m. Sunday on charges of lights required. (Released on summons.)

--Eddie Lee Brown IV, 51, Joseph Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 2:37 a.m. Monday on charges of failure to obey traffic controls, resisting an officer (false information) and driving under suspension.

--Zandre Devn Johnson, 31, Egle Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 9:04 a.m. Sept. 4 on charges of domestic abuse battery, domestic abuse (child endangerment) and failure to appear to pay fines (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Timothy Collier, 25, Honey Lane, Morgan City, was arrested 6:14 p.m. Sept. 4 on three counts of failure to appear to pay fines (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

Assumption

Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:

--Rudy Albarado Jr., 55, La. 996, Belle Rose, was arrested Friday on charges of driving while intoxicated (fourth offense), driving under a suspended license, use of multibeam road lighting equipment, proper equipment required on vehicles, and turning movement and signals required.

The charges arise from a traffic stop on La. 70 in Pierre Part late Friday evening.

A uniformed patrol deputy observed a vehicle on La. 70 commit multiple traffic violations and conducted a stop of that vehicle. The deputy made contact with the driver, now identified as Albarado and engaged Albarado in an interview.

The deputy noted a strong odor of alcoholic beverages emitting from the person of Albarado as well as the suspect vehicle. It was determined that that Albarado, was driving under a suspended driver’s license.

The deputy conducted field sobriety tests, and the driver performed poorly.

Albarado was arrested and transported to the Assumption Parish Detention Center where a chemical test for intoxication was conducted.

Albarado, Jr. was booked and incarcerated pending a bond hearing.

Franklin

Chief Cedric Handy reported that the Franklin Police Department made these arrests:

--Johnny Freeman, 73, St. Joseph Street, Franklin, was arrested at 8:39 a.m. Sept. 4 on charges of driving under suspension, no insurance, no vehicle license plate, and stop signs and yield signs. Freeman was booked, processed and held with no bond set at the time of press release.

--Garrett Hall, 23, Fincher Creek Road, Homer, was arrested at 2:50 p.m. Sept. 4 on charges of driving under suspension and general speed law. Hall was booked, processed and released on a $464bond.

--Christopher Verrett, 42, Barrow Street, Franklin, was arrested at 6:03 a.m. Friday on a warrant for 16th Judicial District Court alleging failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. Verrett was booked, processed and held on a $500 bond.