Police: Stop for window tint leads to drug charges

Two people were arrested on drug charges Monday in Morgan City after police stopped a vehicle with an obstructed window tint, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—Samantha Rowell, 40, of Keith Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:35 p.m. Monday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, window tint violation and possession of MDMA (ecstasy).

—Jesse Hart, 26, of Grandwood Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 3:35 p.m. Monday on charges of possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.

An officer in the area of Catherine Street in Morgan City observed a vehicle with obstructed window tint on the driver and front passenger side windows. A traffic stop was conducted, and the driver was identified as Rowell.

The passenger in the vehicle was identified as Hart. During the traffic stop, Rowell was in possession of suspected marijuana, an ecstasy pill and drug paraphernalia, Blair said.

Hart was in possession of suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Both Rowell and Hart were jailed.

Blair reported that officers responded to 33 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Robert M. Clause, 18, of Lesley Drive in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:45 p.m. Monday on a charge of simple battery.

Officers responded to a business on Victor II Boulevard regarding a disturbance. Officers arrived, and Clause was identified as the suspect involved in the disturbance.

Witnesses stated that Clause approached one of the employees. When that employee tried to walk away from Clause, he struck the employee in the facial area, Blair said.

Clause was located in the parking lot of the business. Clause was jailed.

—Cassie Rankin, 29, of Faith Street in Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested at 8:15 p.m. Monday on a warrant charging her with two counts of failure to pay fines.

Rankin was transported from St. Mary Parish jail to the Morgan City Police Department on a city court warrant. Rankin was jailed.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that deputies responded to 37 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:

—Larry David, 60, of North 2nd Street in Eunice, was arrested at 12:09 p.m. Monday on charges of speeding and driving under suspension.

A deputy patrolling Bayou Vista observed a vehicle traveling over the posted speed limit. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, David.

Through the stop, the deputy learned that David’s driver’s license was suspended, Smith said. David was released on a summons to appear in court April 4.

—Mary Frye, 62, of Pecan Drive in Franklin, was arrested at 7:35 p.m. Monday on a charge of reckless operation.

Deputies patrolling Bayou Vista were dispatched to the area of Southeast Boulevard in reference to a reckless driver. The deputies made contact with the complainant who was an off-duty law enforcement officer who stated that the vehicle was traveling southbound in the northbound lane on Southeast Boulevard, and the officer had to take evasive action to avoid being hit head-on, Smith said.

The deputies located the vehicle matching the description and license plate number parked at a business and made contact with the driver, Frye. Frye was released on a summons to appear in court April 4.

—Jude Resignola, 23, of Arcemont Lane in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 7:30 p.m. Monday on a warrant for failure to appear on a charge of possession of Subutex.

A detective made contact with Resignola when he walked into the Morgan City branch office and turned himself in on an outstanding warrant. Resignola was jailed with no bail set.

—Misty Gaudet, 31, of Fourth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:52 p.m. Monday on charges of failing to signal lane change and driving under suspension.

A deputy patrolling Amelia observed a vehicle fail to give a proper signal when making a turn. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Gaudet.

Through the stop, the deputy learned that Gaudet’s driver’s license was suspended. Gaudet was released on a summons to appear in court April 4.

—Ray Ingram III, 25, of Lawrence Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:30 p.m. Monday on a charge of possession of marijuana and on three warrants for failure to appear on charges of possession of marijuana, simple battery and angling without a license.

A deputy patrolling Amelia observed a vehicle with the license plate not illuminated. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Ingram.

During the stop, the deputy smelled a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and located marijuana in the vehicle, Smith said. The deputy also learned of three active warrants for Ingram’s arrest. Ingram was jailed with no bail set.

Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported the following arrest:

—Scott Thompson, 55, of Sugarhouse Road in Patterson, was arrested at 5:53 p.m. Monday on a charge of theft. Thompson posted $1,500 bail.

Berwick Police Chief David Leonard reported no arrests.