Police: Woman forged over $6,500 in checks

A 52-year-old Morgan City woman was charged Monday with forging someone’s signature on checks totaling over $6,500 and cashing the checks at a bank, Morgan City Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—Marilyn Guarisco, 52, of Front Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:11 a.m. Monday on warrants charging her with forgery and bank fraud.

Patrol officers conducted an investigation June 1 in regard to an alleged forgery. Officers arrived, and Guarisco was identified as a suspect. Guarisco had allegedly forged the victim’s signature on checks totaling $6,575 and cashed them at a bank. Guarisco was jailed.

Blair reported responding to 123 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Stephen A. Boyd Jr., 28, of Ratcliff Lane in Franklin, was arrested at 4:34 a.m. Saturday on St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office warrants charging him with unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling, domestic abuse battery-child endangerment law, theft and simple assault and on an Assumption Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant for failure to appear.

Boyd was located and arrested in the area of Sixth Street on warrants. Boyd was jailed.

—Tracy A. Thomas, 49, of Sixth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:59 p.m. Friday on a warrant charging her with theft less than $750 and a 16th Judicial District Court warrant charging her with failure to appear for trial.

Thomas was located and arrested in the area of Orange Street on active arrest warrants. The Morgan City police warrant stems from an investigation into an alleged theft.

Thomas was identified as a suspect in taking merchandise valued at $43.68 from a business in the area of La. 70. Thomas was jailed.

—Justin D. Price, 28, of Gen. McArthur Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:25 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of marijuana, driving under suspension, no insurance and improper turn.

Patrol officers observed a vehicle conduct an improper turn in the area of Belanger Street. A stop was initiated, and Price, the driver, had a suspended driver’s license and his vehicle wasn’t properly insured. Officers located suspected marijuana. Price was jailed.

—Robinson C. Aquino, 38, of Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested at 11:15 p.m. Friday on a charge of disturbing the peace intoxicated.

Patrol officers responded to a business in the area of La. 182 in regard to a suspicious person. Officers arrived, and Aquino was found to be in an intoxicated state Aquino was jailed.

—John C. Aucoin, 36, of Delmar Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:05 p.m. Saturday on a charge of disturbing the peace intoxicated.

Patrol officers responded to the Lake End Park in regard to a suspicious person. Officers arrived, and Aucoin was identified. Aucoin was found to be in an intoxicated state. Aucoin was jailed.

—Nakita D. Smith, 32, of N Street in Patterson, was arrested at 9:30 p.m. Saturday on charges of driving under suspension, improper restraint and disturbing the peace

Officers observed a vehicle being operated in the area of Victor II Boulevard and the operator was not properly restrained.

A stop was initiated, and Smith was identified as the operator. Smith’s Louisiana Driver’s License was found to be under suspension. During the investigation Smith began yelling profanities in the area of an open business. Smith was jailed.

—Patrick L. Augman, 43, of Spurgeon Road in Monroe, was arrested at 10:10 p.m. Saturday on a warrant charging him with three counts of failure to appear to pay a fine. Augman was located and arrested on a warrant. Augman was jailed.

—Jose G.T. Garcia, 32, of West Syl’s Lane in Amelia, was arrested at 2:14 a.m. Sunday on the charges of DWI offense-child endangerment law, improper lane usage and no driver’s license.

Patrol officers responded to the area of U.S. 90 in regard to a vehicle being operated in a reckless manner. A description of the vehicle was obtained and officers arrived locating the vehicle in the area. The vehicle was observed swerving from lane to lane.

A stop was initiated, and Garcia was identified as the operator of the vehicle. Garcia was found to be in an intoxicated state. Garcia performed poorly on Standardized Field Sobriety Test.

Garcia was found not to possess a valid Louisiana Driver’s License and several children were in the vehicle. Garcia was arrested and transported to the Morgan City jail for Chemical Test for Intoxication. Upon arriving at the Morgan City Jail Garcia submitted to chemical test which registered 0.124 grams-percent blood alcohol content. Garcia was jailed.

—Edgar A. Detrinidad-Navas, 60, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:20 a.m. Sunday on a charge of DWI first offense.

Patrol officers responded to the area of Railroad Avenue in regard to a crash. Officers arrived, and Detrinidad-Navas was identified as the driver of the vehicle.

Detrinidad-Navas was found to be in an intoxicated state. He was transported to the police department for chemical testing for intoxication. Upon arrival, Detrinidad-Navas submitted to chemical test which registered 0.221 grams-percent blood alcohol content. Detrinidad-Navas was jailed.

—Kirk Tappin, 47, of McDermott Drive in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:19 p.m. Sunday on a charge of domestic abuse battery and a warrant for failure to appear for arraignment.

Patrol officers responded to the area of La. 70 in regard to a complaint of a battery that had been committed. Officers arrived and spoke with the victim. The woman displayed injuries that were consistent with a battery being committed. Tappin was identified as a suspect.

Patrol officers located Tappin at a home on McDermott Drive. Tappin was found to have warrants for his arrest. Tappin was jailed.

—Heather B. Durapau, 39, of La. 182 in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:30 p.m. Sunday on warrants charging her with possession of buprenorphine hydrochloride, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, improper turn and failure to appear to pay a fine.

Durapau was located and arrested on warrants. The Morgan City police warrants stem from a January narcotics investigation where a vehicle was observed making an improper turn in the area of Sixth Street.

A stop was initiated and Durapau was identified as the operator of the vehicle. Durapau was found to be in possession of suspected buprenorphine hydrochloride, suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Durapau was jailed.

—Kelly Richard, 38, of Cross Larue in Pierre Part, was arrested at 12:26 a.m. Monday on charges of possession of alprazolam, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law-drug-free zone.

Patrol officers responded to the area of Brashear Avenue in regards to a suspicious person. Patrol officers arrived, and Richard was identified.

Richard was found to be in possession of suspected alprazolam and drug paraphernalia. The area where the incident took place was within a drug-free zone. She was jailed.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 127 complaints and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:

—Amber Lovell, 29, of Rose Street in Berwick, was arrested at 10:58 a.m. Friday on charges of possession of stolen things and possession of marijuana and possession of clonazepam and warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of Schedule I drugs.

A deputy responded to a report of a theft from a home in Bayou Vista. The deputy developed information that Lovell stole a wallet while she was visiting at the victim’s home. The deputy and Morgan City police located Lovell at a home on Duke Street.

While at the location, deputies and police found marijuana, clonazepam, and the stolen wallet. Lovell was jailed with no bail set.

—Troy Perez, 52, of Carol Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 1:01 p.m. Friday on a charge of nonconsensual disclosure of a private image.

A deputy received information that a private nude image was posted to a social media account and conducted an investigation. The deputy found evidence that the picture was posted by Perez without the female victim’s consent. Perez was jailed with no bail set.

—John Destefano, 51, of South Grand View in Daytona, Florida, was arrested at 4:15 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and disturbing the peace by obscene language.

A deputy responded to a report of a suspicious person at St. Mary Plaza in Bayou Vista. Deputies made contact with Destefano outside a business at the shopping center. Deputies found that Destefano was banging on the doors of another nearby business and causing a disturbance in the area.

During the arrest, deputies located marijuana, methamphetamine and items of drug paraphernalia in Destefano’s belongings. Destefano was jailed with no bail set.

—Richard Barrick III, 35, of Saturn Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 6:22 p.m. Friday on a warrant for failure to appear for a drug court status conference and failure to comply with the terms and conditions of drug court.

Barrick was also charged on warrants from the City Court of Morgan City warrants for failure to appear on the charges of driving under suspension and failure to signal a turn. While working a call for service in Bayou Vista, a deputy spoke with Barrick and located the active warrants for his arrest. Barrick was jailed with no bail set.

—Ashlyn Gros, 25, of Sun Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 12:54 p.m. Saturday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of possession of drug paraphernalia.

While patrolling Bayou Vista, a deputy encountered Gros and a man walking behind a business off U.S. 90 in Bayou Vista. While speaking with them, the deputy located the active warrant for Gros. Gros was jailed with bail set at $1,500.

—Landon Rodriguez, 36, of Saturn Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 2:38 p.m. Saturday on a charge of theft of goods.

A deputy responded to a report of shoplifting at a business in Bayou Vista. The deputy collected evidence that Rodriguez concealed items and attempted to leave the store without paying for the goods. Rodriguez was released on a summons to appear in court Sept. 8.

—Nerissa Cole, 42, of Mission Court in Avondale, was arrested at 1:49 p.m. Saturday on charges of speeding and operating a vehicle with a suspended driver’s license.

A deputy monitoring traffic on U.S. 90 in Patterson area observed a vehicle traveling 71 mph in a 55 mph zone. The deputy conducted a traffic stop, identified the driver as Cole and found that she was driving the vehicle with a suspended license. Cole was released on a summons to appear in court Sept. 8.

—David Aucoin Jr., 21, of Cremo Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 4:50 p.m. Saturday on two warrants for failure to appear on the charges of possession of Schedule I drugs.

A deputy responding to a separate call for service encountered Aucoin and located the active warrants for his arrest. Aucoin was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. No bail is set.

—Spencer Aucoin II, 46, of Duhon Boulevard in Amelia, was arrested at 3:26 p.m. Saturday on a warrant charging him with telephone harassment.

The warrant was issued following an investigation into a report received June 7. The deputy found evidence that Aucoin made threats to a victim via phone. A deputy located Aucoin at his home on the warrant. Aucoin was booked into jail and released on $500 bail.

—Patrick Augman, 43, of Burney Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 11:27 p.m. Saturday on a charge of theft of goods. A deputy responded to a report of shoplifting at a store in Bayou Vista. The deputy collected evidence that Augman left the store without paying for several bottles of liquor. Augman was located at the Morgan City Police Department. Augman was released on a summons to appear in court Sept. 8.

—Heath Ohmer, 29, of Justin Lane in Amelia, was arrested at 8:21 a.m. Sunday on a charge of violation of the parish leash law ordinance.

A deputy began an investigation into a Friday animal complaint in Amelia. With the assistance of St. Mary Parish Animal Control, two dogs that were running loose in the area were caught. The deputy found that one of the animals belonged to Ohmer and located him Sunday. Following the investigation, Ohmer was released on a summons to appear in court Sept. 8.

—Carey Montet II, 39, of Barrow Street in Amelia, was arrested at 2:42 p.m. Sunday on a charge of domestic abuse battery-child endangerment law.

A deputy responded to a report of domestic abuse at a home in Patterson. The deputy collected evidence that Montet grabbed a woman by the arm causing a small laceration. Two juveniles were in the home at the time the battery occurred. Montet was booked into jail and released on $3,500 bail.

—Heather Durapau, 39, of First Street in Patterson, was arrested at 2:20 p.m. Sunday on Morgan City Police Department and City Court of Morgan City warrants for failure to signal, possession of buprenorphine, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and failure to appear on the charge of speeding.

Durapau is also charged on a warrant for issuing worthless checks. A deputy assisting Morgan City Police with serving the warrants arrested Durapau on Arbor Circle in Bayou Vista. Durapau was jailed with no bail set.

Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrests:

—Cameron Jackson, 18, of Sun Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 12:01 p.m. Friday on charges of disturbing the peace by language and aggravated assault. No bail is set.

—Jessica Everage, 36, of River Road in Berwick, was arrested at 12:01 p.m. Friday on a charge of disturbing the peace by language. Everage posted $237 bail.

—Stacey Jackson, 48, of Sun Road in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:18 p.m. Friday on a charge of disturbing the peace by language. Jackson posted $237 bail.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrest:

—Garret Woods, 36, of Bob White Loop in Lafayette, was arrested at 12:48 a.m. Monday on charges of theft of goods, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. No bail is set.