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Sheriff: Shoplifting suspect threatened employee with box cutter

A 54-year-old Raceland man was charged on a warrant stemming from a January incident where he threatened a Bayou Vista Walmart employee with a box cutter after being confronted for shoplifting, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.

—Eddie Caldwell, 54, of Williams Street in Raceland, was arrested at 3:06 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant charging him with aggravated assault.

A correctional officer transported Caldwell from a Lafourche Parish jail facility to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.

The warrant stems from an investigation into a Jan. 29 complaint of shoplifting at Walmart in Bayou Vista that evolved into an aggravated assault.

The deputy gathered video evidence of a male suspect concealing bottles of liquor in a box containing a baby’s high chair. The suspect then purchases the high chair and walks towards the exit. When store security personnel confronted the suspect, he allegedly produced what appeared to be a box cutter and threatened the employee.

The detective investigating the case received a call from another detective in a neighboring parish who saw a photo of the suspect and shared information on the suspect’s identity. The collaboration resulted in the warrant for Caldwell. No bail is set.

Hebert reported responding to 34 complaints in the parish.

Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported responding to 53 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Ricky D. Pillaro, 61, of La. 182 in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:15 a.m. Tuesday on a warrant for failure to appear to pay a fine and a 16th Judicial District Court warrant for failure to appear for arraignment. Pillaro was located and arrested in the area of Railroad Avenue on warrants. Pillaro was jailed.

—Yosheka B. Hayes, 30, of Duke Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:27 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant charging her with criminal mischief.

Hayes was located and arrested in the area of Sixth Street on a warrant. The warrant stems from an investigation conducted by patrol officers in December 2016 in regards to a vehicle crash.

During the investigation, officers uncovered evidence that Hayes had falsely reported the crash. A warrant was prepared for Hayes’ arrest. Hayes was jailed.

—Tyeisha Barnes, 23, of Terrebonne Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:59 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of simple battery.

Patrol officers responded to the area of Terrebonne Street in regard to a disturbance. Officers arrived and saw Barnes involved in a fist fight with the victim. Barnes was jailed.

—Tanisha L. Wilkerson, 41, of Grace Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant charging her with contempt of court. Wilkerson was located and arrested at city court on warrants. Wilkerson was jailed.

—Harrison Short, 51, of Mallard Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:20 p.m. Tuesday on a warrant charging him with contempt of court. Short was located and arrested at city court on a warrant. Harrison was jailed.

—Ryan A. Fitch, 40, of Lake Mechant Court in Houma, was arrested at 4:50 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of hit and run driving.

Patrol officers had placed police marked barricades on Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard due to the high water caused by the rain. Fitch was traveling down Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and struck one of those barricades and caused damage.

A patrol officer was in the area and was able to initiate a stop on the vehicle Fitch was operating. Fitch was jailed.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrest:

—Jody Cubbedge Sr., 59, of Second Street in Berwick, was arrested at 3:53 p.m. Tuesday on warrants charging him with aggravated assault and simple battery. Cubbedge was jailed.

Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrest:

—Michele Crappell Harrell, 51, of Wise Street in Patterson, was arrested at 6:52 p.m. Tuesday on a charge of theft. No bail is set yet.

ST. MARY NOW

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