Police: Inmate struck officers, tried to take Tasers

A 26-year-old inmate in the Morgan City jail has been accused of striking officers and attempting to take two officers’ Tasers during an incident at the jail, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—David A. Turner, 26, of Monarch Street in Houma, was arrested at 6:37 p.m. Tuesday on charges of resisting an officer, battery on a correctional officer, battery on a police officer and disarming a police officer.

Patrol and correction officers responded to the Morgan City jail in regard to a combative inmate. Officers arrived, and Turner was identified as the inmate involved, Blair said.

During the encounter, Turner allegedly struck patrol and correction officers and attempted to disarm two officers of their Tasers, Blair said. Turner was eventually subdued and placed into a holding cell. Turner was booked on the additional charges.

Blair reported responding to 38 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Dezzie J. Booty, 38, of Maple Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:15 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of an alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle and improper turning.

Patrol officers observed a vehicle being operated in the area of Duke Street negotiate an improper turn. A stop was initiated, and Booty was identified as the driver. Booty was in possession of suspected marijuana and an open alcoholic beverage in the vehicle, Blair said. Booty was jailed.

—Kimberly M. Jones, 27, of James Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:12 p.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of alprazolam, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, improper lane usage and texting while driving.

Patrol officers observed a vehicle being operated in the area of La. 182, and the driver was observed texting while driving. The vehicle was also observed swerving, nearly leaving the roadway, Blair said.

A stop was initiated, and Jones was identified as the driver. Jones was in possession of suspected alprazolam, marijuana and drug paraphernalia, Blair said. Jones was jailed.

—Tiffany R. Guidry, 30, of La. 182 in Franklin, was arrested at 4 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant charging her with contempt of court. Guidry was located and arrested at the police department on a city court warrant. Guidry was jailed.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 41 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests relating to east St. Mary Parish:

—Kloey Cuvillier, 17, of Front Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:46 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of theft of goods. A deputy investigating a complaint of shoplifting at a store in Bayou Vista found evidence that Cuvillier concealed items in a bag and attempted to leave the store without paying for the goods. Cuvillier was released on a summons to appear in court Feb. 7, 2018.

—Rebecca Billington, 36, of Jordin Lane in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 3:38 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant charging her with general speed law violation, improper lane usage and possession of MDMA.

On Nov. 2, narcotics detectives and the K-9 unit were patrolling Berwick when they observed a vehicle traveling 40 mph in a 30 mph zone on the La.182 bridge.

Detectives conducted a traffic stop and identified the driver as Billington. Detectives received consent to search the vehicle and located an MDMA pill in Billington’s purse, Hebert said.

Narcotics detectives later obtained a warrant for her arrest and took her into custody at the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office in Morgan City. Billington was booked into parish jail and then released on $1,500 bail. A passenger in the vehicle was also arrested at the time of the traffic stop.

—Passion Fontenot, 36, of Audubon Road in Abbeville, was arrested at 4:11 a.m. Oct. 31 on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of driving under suspension and speeding.

A corrections deputy transported Fontenot from the Avoyelles Parish jail to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Fontenot was transferred to the Morgan City Police Department jail for housing.

—Earl Perro, 35, of Cleveland Street in Patterson, was arrested at 11:50 a.m. Nov. 1 on three warrants charging him with theft of goods, aggravated assault, criminal damage to property and issuing worthless checks as well as a warrant for failure to appear on a charge of possession of cocaine.

The theft of goods warrant was issued following a March investigation into a report of shoplifting at a store in Bayou Vista. The deputy found evidence that Perro left the store without paying for several items, Hebert said.

The warrant for aggravated assault and criminal damage to property was obtained as the result of a November 2016 investigation. The deputy collected evidence that Perro threw a shovel at a female victim, breaking the window of a business property on La. 182 in Bayou Vista, Hebert said.

During booking at the parish jail, a corrections deputy located the outstanding warrants for Perro. No bail is set.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.

Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported no arrests.