Sheriff: Two arrested after suspicious person complaint

Two men were arrested Thursday on drug charges after St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies responded to a suspicious person complaint at Plantation Inn in Bayou Vista.

One of the suspects was also discovered to have allegedly struck a woman in the face several times, Sheriff Mark Hebert said in a news release.

—Jim Businelle, 58, of Carol Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 12:37 a.m. Thursday on charges of domestic abuse battery, obstruction of justice, possession of MDMA, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and vagrancy.

—Donald Rock Jr., 40, of Louisa Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:37 a.m. Thursday on charges of possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and vagrancy.

Deputies responded to a report of a suspicious person at the Plantation Inn on Universe Road in Bayou Vista. While searching the area, a deputy located a man matching the suspicious person’s description walking in the Place Norman Shopping Center near U.S. 90.

The deputy approached the person and observed the man reach into his pocket, take out several items, and discard them on the ground, Hebert said. The deputy stopped the person, identified him as Businelle, and retrieved the objects he dropped, including ecstasy pills and a small bag of marijuana, the sheriff said.

Another deputy located a person sitting inside a parked vehicle at the motel and identified him as Rock. Rock was wanted on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of attempted possession of cocaine.

Based on information collected by both deputies, the Morgan City Police Department’s K-9 Unit was contacted for assistance. The K-9 indicated an odor response on Rock’s vehicle and deputies located marijuana and pipes used for smoking illicit drugs, Hebert said.

As the investigation unfolded, deputies developed information that a battery occurred at the motel. They found evidence that Businelle repeatedly struck a female victim in the face, Hebert said. Businelle and Rock were jailed with no bail set.

Hebert reported responding to 34 complaints in the parish:

—Alvin Robinson Jr., 43, of Clothilde Street in Morgan City, was additionally charged at 1:08 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of angling without a license.

Robinson was already incarcerated at the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center when a correctional officer received the active warrant. No bail is set.

—Albert Soto, 57, of Marin Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 4:28 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of theft. A detective investigated the theft of an air compressor motor from outside of a business in Patterson. Working with the business, the detective developed information about a suspect vehicle and located the vehicle at a home in Patterson.

Through investigation, the detective collected evidence that Soto stole the item. The detective located Soto at a business in Morgan City.

After speaking with Soto at the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office in Morgan City, he was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking and released on $3,000 bail. The detective recovered the stolen air compressor motor from Soto’s residence and will return it to the business.

—Herman Delco, 35, of Odile Lane in Amelia, was arrested at 2:04 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant for unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling.

A deputy assigned to the Warrants Section located Delco at the St. Mary Parish Courthouse in Franklin. Delco was jailed with no bail set.

Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported the following arrests:

—Darrell Short, 56, of Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:07 p.m. Wednesday on charges of driving under suspension, speeding 61 mph in a 45 mph zone and open container in a motor vehicle.

Patrol officers observed a vehicle being operated in the area of La. 182 at a speed of 61 mph in a 45 mph zone. A stop was initiated, and Short, the driver, had a suspended driver’s license, Blair said.

Short was also found to be in possession of an open alcoholic beverage in the motor vehicle. Short was jailed.

—Joseph Jessie, 48, of Utah Street in Berwick, was arrested at 5:05 a.m. Thursday on charges of driving under suspension and improper lane usage.

Patrol officers observed a vehicle being operated in the area of Railroad Avenue swerving from its lane of travel onto the shoulder, almost leaving the roadway. A stop was initiated, and Jessie, the driver, had a suspended driver’s license, Blair said. Jessie was jailed.

Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrests:

—Henry Quentin, 31, of La. 182 in Centerville, was arrested at 4 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of violation of protective orders. Quentin was jailed with no bail set yet.

—Lamonta Thomas, 21, of Mike Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 1:55 p.m. Wednesday on charges of theft by shoplifting, possession of marijuana first offense and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile. Thomas was jailed with no bail set.

—Calvin Walter Griffin Jr., 41, of Gina Street in Patterson, was arrested at 10:26 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of public intoxication. Cash bail was set at $413.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.