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The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office K9 Section and the Narcotics Section stayed busy last week with a series of drug arrests.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith reported these arrests:
—Christina Allison Breaux, 27, Olive Street, Patterson, was arrested by the K9 Section at 10:49 a.m. Thursday on charges of possession of marijuana, brake lights required, driver must be licensed and possession of drug paraphernalia
A K9 deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle and made contact with the driver, Breaux. During the investigation, the deputy deployed K9 Duko to conduct an open-air sniff of the vehicle and he showed an odor response. Drugs and drug paraphernalia were located.
Breaux was released on a summons to appear Nov. 2.
—David Robertson, 22, Rod Lane, Baldwin, was arrested by the Narcotics Section at 7 p.m. Thursday on charges of improper lane use, aggravated flight from an officer, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, resisting an officer, transactions involving drug proceeds and obstruction of justice.
—Dwonyell Charles, 21, Wilfred Street, Franklin, was arrested at 7 p.m. Thursday by the Narcotics Section on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, resisting an officer, transactions involving drug proceeds and obstruction of justice.
—Dazjhalun Charles, 23, Wilfred Street, Franklin was arrested by the Narcotics Section at 7 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, resisting an officer, transactions involving drug proceeds and obstruction of justice
Detectives with the SMPSO Narcotics Section were traveling south on Big Four Corners Road when they observed a vehicle cross the centerline of the roadway and continue to travel down the centerline for a short period of time.
The detectives attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the vehicle sped up and continued to travel at a high rate of speed. The vehicle struck two signs before it merged onto U.S. 90 and continued to travel at a high rate of speed. The detectives observed a large bag being thrown from the vehicle, which was later recovered by a detective.
Eventually, the vehicle came to a stop and the detectives made contact with the driver, Robertson, and two passengers, Dwonyell Charles a Dazjhalun Charles. Through the investigation, the detectives located a small amount of drugs in the vehicle as well as a firearm and a large amount of cash. The bag which was thrown from the vehicle and recovered contained 469 grams of marijuana.
Robertson, Dwonyell Charles, and Dazjhalun Charles were transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. They were later released on a $15,000 bond each.
—Myles Anthony Morgan, 32, 1 Front Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:48 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of criminal neglect of family. No bail has been set.
Marine Section
Smith advises that during July, the Marine Section of the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to the following incidents:
Assistance: July 6, 11:30 a.m., Atchafalaya River Delta
On July 6, a detective with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Marine Section was notified via text from the United States Coast Guard SAR of a stranded vessel at the Atchafalaya River Delta. The USCG also provided the boater’s name, cellphone number and coordinates to the location. The detective made contact with the boater, who stated he and two friends were headed to the lighthouse when their engine failed.
The detective advised the boater that the Sheriff’s Office would respond and if his situation changed before the arrival to call back.
The detective and another deputy launched SMB-2, and responded to the coordinates provided by the USCG. Upon arrival, they observed three people in the stranded vessel. A tow line was connected to the stranded vessel and it was towed back to the boat launch without incident.
Assistance: July 22, 9:18 am, Flat Lake
A detective with the SMPSO Marine Section was on regular patrol when he received a call from dispatch advising of a stranded boater in Flat Lake. Dispatch further advised that the boater advised that he ran aground in Flat Lake and was in need of assistance.
The detective contacted the boater who stated he and another fisherman were out fishing and ran aground. He further stated there were no injuries and that he needed assistance getting off the sand bar. The detective contacted supervisors, advised them of the situation, and responded in marked patrol vessel SMB-2 along with another deputy.
Upon arrival, it was determined that an Airboat was needed to assist the boater due to the shallow water conditions. The detective returned to retrieve an Airboat asset while the deputy stood by with the two fishermen. Approximately 45 minutes later the detective returned with an Airboat and was able to tow the aground vessel to deeper water without incident. The boat was able to return to the boat launch under its own power.
Assistance: July 30, 1 p.m., GA Cut at Taylor’s Point
A detective with the SMPSO Marine Section was contacted by dispatch advising of a stranded boater in GA Cut at Taylor’s Point. Dispatch further advised that the boater advised that he and his passenger ran aground were in need of assistance.
The detective contacted the boater by phone and advised him that the Sheriff’s Office would be responding and if his situation changed before the arrival to call back. The detective launched marked patrol vessel SMB-2 and responded to the area.
Upon arrival, the detective observed the stranded vessel and the two boaters seated in a bass fishing vessel. A towline was attached to the stranded vessel and it was towed off the sandbar. The boat was able to return to the boat launch under its own power.
Patrol activity
At the beginning of the month, the Marine Section deputies investigated a theft of pontoons which resulted in an arrest of a suspect and the recovery of the pontoons.
In the last week of July, the Marine Section deputies investigated the theft and arson of a camp. The camp was recovered and the investigation is on-going into the person responsible.
The Marine Section also responded to three SAR calls plus regular patrol on the waterways of St. Mary Parish.
Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair reported this arrest:
—Justin Anthony Michael Lacaze, 28, Fortune Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:30 a.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear.
Lacaze was located at the Morgan City Police Department and placed under arrest on an active warrant held by the City Court of Morgan City. He was booked and incarcerated.
Assumption Parish Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:
—Leon John Chenevert Jr., 40, La 996, Belle Rose, was arrested Thursday on charges of speeding, llegal window tint, driving under suspension, two counts of possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and obstruction of justice.
A uniformed patrol officer observed an eastbound vehicle on La. 70 East commit a traffic violation and initiated a stop of that vehicle. The deputy made contact with the driver, identified as Chenevert
Chenevert was interviewed by the deputy and based on that contact, a K-9 was summoned to the location. The K-9 conducted an open-air sniff of the vehicle which created a positive alert to the presence of controlled dangerous substances.
Deputies conducted a search of the vehicle and seized methamphetamine as well as assorted drug paraphernalia.
At some point during the stop, deputies believe that Chenevert attempted to conceal certain evidence.
Chenevert was arrested and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center pending a bond hearing.

A state court has issued a temporary restraining order against Firehouse BBQ restaurant in Denham Springs for its excessive non-compliance of his Phase Two mitigation measures aimed at slowing the spread of COVID-19 throughout Louisiana, the Governor’s Office said.
The order prohibits the restaurant from operating in violation of an emergency order suspending their permit for violations of the Governor’s mask mandate.
“Defiance of the order to help keep the people of our state safe by this establishment is extremely reckless and irresponsible,” said Gov. John Bel Edwards in a press release.
The Louisiana Department of Health prioritizes education over such enforcement actions and that has largely worked in the response against COVID-19.
LDH and the State Fire Marshal received complaints on July 21 and July 22 indicating that the restaurant had posted notices on its front door and on social media saying it was not requiring the wearing of masks or face coverings by employees or customers.
An LDH inspection on July 27 confirmed the presence of the described front door sign and that Firehouse BBQ was not requiring employees or customers to wear masks or face coverings.
Upon completion of the inspection and receipt of the inspection report, the owner of Firehouse BBQ made it clear the restaurant would not be complying with the governor’s proclamations.
After giving the restaurant several opportunities to comply with the governor’s order, in the interest of the public’s health, on July 31 LDH ordered the restaurant to close immediately.

The Rotary Club of Morgan City

Louisiana oil and gas leaders are asking for federal help to get through the worst downturn the state’s industry has seen since the 1980s.
In April, an oversupply of oil combined with crashing demand amid the COVID-19 pandemic briefly pushed U.S. oil prices into negative territory for the first time ever. Traders were willing to pay to get rid of oil rather than figure out how to store it.
The price has rebounded to about $40 or so per barrel, but that’s not high enough to give companies confidence to invest, said Gifford Briggs, who heads the Louisiana Oil and Gas Association. Recent reports indicate Saudi Arabia, Russia and other major oil-producing countries may increase production soon, which could bring prices down again, he said.
At last count, there were 29 active oil rigs in Louisiana, Briggs said, counting nine in the Gulf of Mexico. In a normal year, there would be between 70 and 100, he said. Louisiana’s many service companies depend heavily on wells being drilled to stay busy.
LOGA is asking Congress to consider using stimulus money to plug “orphaned” wells. Since 1993, Louisiana has plugged more than 3,300 abandoned wells at a cost of $128 million. But there are still an estimated 4,200 orphan wells remaining, and Briggs said the number likely is growing.
Beyond the environmental benefit, a federally funded program to plug orphan wells could provide work to service companies and allow them to bring laid-off workers back. But it would only be a short-term bandage for an industry that would benefit far more from a robust economic recovery that increased demand for fuel.
“We need people going to Disney,” Briggs said. “We need people getting on cruise ships. We need people traveling to conferences.”
The oil and gas sector historically has seen many cycles of boom and bust. The current slump reminds many people in the industry of the 1980s crash that devastated Louisiana’s economy, said Lori LeBlanc, vice president of the Louisiana Mid-Continent Oil and Gas Association.
But she said the industry never really recovered from the last major downturn in 2016.
“The industry was in a downturn even before COVID,” LeBlanc said. “Everybody is just waiting for the demand to recover.”
LMOGA, along with the National Ocean Industries Association, is asking for two federal regulatory measures that it says would help the offshore sector. The U.S. Department of the Interior has the authority to grant companies relief from the royalties they have to pay the government, but it’s currently doing so on a case-by-case basis and the process is cumbersome, LeBlanc said.
The organizations are asking the federal government to grant temporary relief more broadly, which perhaps could be trigged by a certain oil price. They also are requesting a streamlined process to approve lease extensions for companies that aren’t currently producing on those leases, which they say would allow flexibility to delay expenses until the economic picture changes.
Mining and logging, the sector that includes oil and gas, gained about 200 jobs in Louisiana in June (the most recent month for which a breakdown was available), though it was down 6,700 jobs year-over-year, according to the Louisiana Workforce Commission. The sector had lost jobs nine of the previous 10 months compared to the previous year, the LWC says.
The Houma and Lafayette areas, which are the regions in the state most heavily dependent on oil and gas, posted unemployment rates of 8.8% and 9.2% respectively in June, compared to 5.3% and 5.4% in June 2019.
Haynes and Boone, a law firm that tracks oil patch bankruptcies, counted 18 exploration and production company bankruptcies nationwide in the second quarter of 2020, the most since the second quarter of 2016. Those failures have a ripple effect on Louisiana’s many service companies.
Falling oil prices can be caused by geopolitics or economics, notes economist Stephen Barnes, who directs the Kathleen Blanco Public Policy Center at UL Lafayette and sits on the state’s Revenue Estimating Conference. This spring both factors were at play, as major oil-producing nations engaged in a price war and COVID-19 lockdowns sapped demand for fuel.
But the global political situation seems to have improved, he said. And demand for gasoline has bounced back to some extent, though the need for jet fuel has not.
Barnes doesn’t suggest good times are around the corner for Louisiana’s oil and gas industry, but things don’t look quite as bad as they looked a few months ago.
“I think we’ll be able to limp along until we can get to that broader recovery,” he said. “Limping along is a lot better than going under.”