RSS Feed

Two Morgan City residents were arrested and accused of committing a battery on each other, Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair said in a news release.
—Jessie Mattison Reeves, 38, of Roderick Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:31 p.m. Monday on a charge of domestic abuse battery.
—Rika D. Crader, 38, of Roderick Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:31 p.m. Monday on a charge of domestic abuse battery.
Officers were called to a Roderick Street residence for a domestic disturbance. Officers came into contact with Reeves and Crader. Officers learned both Reeves and Crader had committed a battery during a domestic dispute. They both were jailed.
Blair also reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 37 calls of service and the following arrests were made:
—Curran Bias, 37, of Florence Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 12:47 p.m. Monday on charges of theft under $1,000 and alcohol consumption. Officers were dispatched to a local business on La. 182 about a theft.
Officers were informed by witnesses that Bias had exited the store with merchandise without paying. Officers located Bias outside the business consuming an alcoholic beverage in public. He was jailed.
—Harley Nicole Thibodeaux, 21, of La. 317 in Franklin, was arrested at 3:30 p.m. Monday on four counts of failure to appear. Thibodeaux was located at Assumption Detention Center and placed under arrest on active warrants held by City Court of Morgan City. She was transported to the Morgan City Police Department and jailed.
—Randy Scott Landry, 44, of West Main Street in Houma, was arrested at 3:49 p.m. Monday on a warrant for simple assault.
The warrant stems from a complaint filed with the Morgan City Police Department on Oct. 9. A warrant was obtained from the complaint. Landry turned himself in to the Morgan City Police Department and jailed.
—Jason Thomas Vining, 20, of Louisa Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:20 p.m. Monday on three counts of failure to appear.
Vining turned himself in to the Morgan City Police Department on active warrants held by the City Court of Morgan City. He was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that the Sheriff’s Office responded to 41 complaints and the following arrests were made:
—Conley Thomas Jones, 70, of Joseph Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:31 a.m. Monday on charges of driving under suspension and improper display of license plates.
A deputy was patrolling the area of James Street in Siracusa when he observed a vehicle with a license plate cover obstructing the view of the plate. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Jones. Dispatch advised that Jones’ license was suspended. He was arrested and released on a summons to appear March 11.
—Gregory Keith Gober Jr., 31, of Sixth Street in Berwick, was arrested at 8:20 p.m. Monday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charge of operating a vehicle while intoxicated. A deputy was patrolling the area of Arlington Road when he observed a vehicle fail to stop at a stop sign.
The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Gober.
Dispatch advised the deputy that Gober held an active warrant for his arrest. He was jailed with no bail set.
—Li Thi Miller, 69, of La. 182 in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:18 p.m. Monday on a charge of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling.
A deputy was dispatched to a local business in Amelia in reference to a disturbance. The deputy made contact with the complainant, who stated that Miller had entered her residence. He was jailed with no bail set.
—Lacey Scully, 26, of Allison Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:33 a.m. Tuesday on two warrants for failure to appear on the charges of child restraint violation, no driver’s license, no insurance and possession of marijuana.
Scully was located outside a local business in Morgan City by the Morgan City Police Department.
The deputy made contact with Scully and transported her to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. She was jailed with no bail set.
Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported the following arrests:
—Vernon A. Billiot, 35, of Riverview Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 11:05 p.m. Monday on a charge of suspended driver’s license. He was jailed with bond set at $437.
Assumption Parish Sheriff Leland Falcon reported the following arrests:
—Harley Nicole Thibodaux, 21, of North Bayou Black Road in Gibson, was arrested Friday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, and four counts fugitive warrants for the Morgan City Police Department.
An I.C.E. Unit deputy observed a vehicle on La. 182 commit a traffic violation and initiated a stop of the vehicle. Upon approaching the vehicle, the deputy noted a strong odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle.
The deputy interviewed the driver and determined that his driver’s license had been suspended.
The deputy also made contact with and interviewed the passenger, identified as Thibodeaux.
The deputy requested and was granted consent to search the vehicle. A quantity of marijuana and methamphetamine was seized. The methamphetamine was attributed to Thibodeaux. She was jailed with a $2,500 bond.
The driver, Mylan Tonio Diggs, was issued a summons on the charges of possession of marijuana, headlamps required and driving under suspension. Diggs was released.
Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported there were no arrests.

Since last Friday’s edition of the Banner-Tribune, when we published three stories on the subject of the Louisiana Black Bear in St. Mary Parish, we have seen an abundance of shares and replies to those articles on social media.
Having presented the side of the officials involved in dealing with nuisance bears, we feel it is very important to hear from those who are experiencing interactions with the animals and the problems they have encountered.
We polled the readers of our Facebook page and received an abundance of replies.
Here are the results:
Tracey Charpentier: I’m tired of picking up trash. I want a bear proof can!
Angela Hoffpauir Johnson: We have bears constantly on La. 182 in Verdunville and John Street. They have figured out how to open the bear proof cans and they scatter the trash everywhere. It needs to stop.
Michelle Cuvillier: Got our trash Saturday night bags of trash scattered all over the place, 135 Sydney Lane in Centerville. This is happening all the time now. (Has not received a new waste container.)
Jeannie Thibodaux Segura: On behalf of Prairie Road Circle, Martin Road, Boudreaux Road and Prairie Road, the bears are bad! Pretty much daily you can drive down the roads and see garbage everywhere. Cans knocked over, garbage in the roads, ditches and fields. We are told to not put our cans out until the morning of pickup day. Well sometimes they (waste collection truck) pass at 5 a.m. so if we wait we get skipped. They came around and randomly gave out bear cans. Not everyone has gotten them. We never received a bear proof can. We’ve been promised since the summer of 2016 that we would be getting them. I’ve done everything I could to keep them from coming to my house but once my can is at the road and I go to bed it’s out of my control. Something needs to be done! They are getting too comfortable and someone is going to get hurt.
Rosalyn Romero: I think they are becoming over populated. Need to open bear season!
Josh Joanie Luke: On Cane Road, everyone received a bear proof can except for our house and the house across the street. So now every night it seems that the bear comes to our garbage cans and drags trash everywhere. Not sure why everyone but two houses would receive a bear proof can on the same road.
Tina Moore Mason: They are on Cane Road n Centerville often, not just trash days. It’s a big one, I have big foot prints under my carport from it. (Has new waste containers)
Lauren Pillaro Comeaux: On behalf of Linda Lane in Franklin (Irish Bend) our bear is getting tough to deal with. We understand living “near the country” that we will have wildlife and love our wildlife. The bear are different. They are large and not frightened of people. Our bear that has taken residence is very comfortable with loud noises or scare tactics. We have had a visit from Wildlife and Fisheries which resulted in telling us to take down bird feeders. This bear has never once even gone near the bird feeder. Most of us have cameras on our property and have never caught our bear going near the bird feeder. We have all taken extra measures on securing our trash cans since we do not have bear cans. My family does not use the Pelican Service since it is unreliable. We bring our own trash straight to the dump often to keep it empty yet the bear still returns pretty much nightly. The bear has also been known to roam during the day. Again, no loud noises usually scare him away and if it does, he returns moments later. I do not want the bear killed but our problem is the size of this animal and him not being afraid of humans or human activity. We have numerous calls into (the parish) bear department and no neighbors have gotten calls back. Wildlife and Fisheries have told us not to contact them but to contact the Sheriff’s Offices every time he comes. I have chosen to stop calling because we feel that our deputies have other things with humans they should be handling and not ANIMAL complaints. The system needs to change and new tactics need to be used.
Rosalyn Romero: Just Sunday morning one got our trash can at the road. It took all the bags of trash across the street and had trash everywhere. I live on La. 182 in Centerville. (Does not have new waste container)
Lisa Pace Nugent: We are directly across from Cane Road. The bear comes down Cane Road and crosses into our yard. It yanked on part of my porch and broke the railing. I would love to know the count of bears in St Mary parish. Too many per square mile!
Donald Hahn Sr.: I live at 52 Main Street Franklin on the outskirts. Seen the bear one night and he’s a big boy, he looked me dead in my eyes (as if) “I’m going to look through your garbage can so you go on.” I went inside, he emptied the garbage can next morning and I picked it up.
Angela Brightwell: John Street in Verdunville is where I live. We have them very often and can get within five feet from them and they are not scared. They see people all the time now. We have done everything suggested and then some to no avail. It’s sad to say but we are used to it now. We just run out when we see or hear them and scare them off. They always come back. I am at the point now that I have just learned to live with them but it is very aggravating to have to pick up garbage. And yes they know how to get into the “bear proof” cans, all of them! Ours has a name now, Yogi!
Greg Pellerin: I live on Hwy. 182 just before the Centerville Bridge. We have been having problems with bears as well. I actually found one that made himself a home under our carport right by the steps. He didn’t move until I went outside and chased him off. He has come by numerous times, knocking over the garbage can and leaving trash all over the place. Just this past weekend I was clearing some overgrown brush behind home and startled the bear, which ran off. This was in broad daylight. These bears are not scared of humans and are becoming too comfortable around our homes. I fear that there will be an attack eventually, and when that happens I guess it will be our own fault because we taste like chicken. (Does not have new containers: “No one on our end has the new containers. The one I currently have is busted up from a while back when the garbage pickup was still automated. My can has more cracks in it that our roadways.”)
Toddy Boudreaux: I called Wildlife and Fisheries about the bear coming on my porch by my door. I tried to scare it away and it didn’t care about me. So I told them if it breaks my door and comes in my house I will kill it. That same day a game warden showed up at my house. Somehow it was reported that I told them I was baiting the bear to kill it. The bear knocked over some dog food in my yard so they wrote me a warning for having dog food and bird feeders in my yard and I had to pick it up. I have been dealing with this for three years now. I have called for three years now. They tell me how to bear poof my yard but don’t tell me what they are going to do about it. I would like for them to explain to me how humans got knocked down the list and bears are on top. People tell me I live on their land but I have been living there for more than 20 years. They keep telling me what they don’t think these bears are not going to do, but they can’t be sure. It’s like they are waiting for someone to get hurt or worst before they see there is a problem. My wife walks our dogs in the morning with a gun. We should not have to do that.

Isabella Nicole Bonnette Vargus
Baby Isabella Nicole Bonnette Vargus, was born and died Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, at Ochsner St. Mary in Morgan City.
She is survived by parents, Kimberly Bonnette and David Vargus; four siblings, Halena Farnham, Billy Farnham, Daven Vargus and Bella Vargus; and grandparents, Tammy and Joseph Billiot.
A memorial visitation will be Thursday from 5 p.m. until services at 7 p.m. at Twin City Funeral Home.

A tip called into Berwick police led to a traffic stop during which a Bayou L’Ourse man shoved an officer and ran, Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. said in a news release.
—Trent Duhon, 25, of Jamie Court in Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested at 8:44 p.m. Sunday on charges of resisting an officer by giving false information, battery of a police officer, two counts resisting an officer with force or violence, criminal trespass and a warrant for failure to appear in 16th Judicial Court.
Officers responded to a call from a motorist stating that they were following a car on La.182 that the driver was not supposed to be driving and that the passenger, Duhon, had outstanding warrants for his arrest. Officers conducted a traffic stop on La. 182 near Gilmore Drive and made contact with the driver.
Officers also made contact with the passenger who identified himself using a false name. Officers confirmed that there were several warrants for Duhon through Assumption Parish for domestic abuse battery involving strangulation with child endangerment.
Officers removed Duhon from the passenger seat and advised him that he was under arrest. Duhon forcefully pulled away and pushed an officer in the chest area and fled from the scene on foot. Officers gave chase in to a nearby subdivision.
Assistance was requested from the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office, Morgan City Police Dept. and 2 off duty officers. An off duty officer observed Duhon jump a fence and run through several yards. Duhon was located and jailed where a hold was placed for the Assumption Parish warrants.
Leonard also reported the following arrests:
—Kenan Jones, 20, of Nichole Lane in Berwick, was arrested at 2:48 p.m. Saturday on charges of speeding 66 mph in a 45 mph zone and driving under suspension. An officer patrolling the area of La. 182 clocked a vehicle speeding 66 mph in a 45 mph speed zone. A traffic stop was conducted and the driver was identified as Jones. Jones was asked to produce his driver’s license and he indicated that he did not have it on him. A check was conducted and officers learned that his license was suspended. He was jailed and released on a $427 bond.
—Aketa Francis, 27, of Pacific Street in Berwick, was arrested at 9:03 p.m. Saturday on a charge of simple criminal damage to property. Officers responded to a Pacific Street address in reference to damage to property. Officers were informed that Francis was at the residence and that she had threw a rock at a window causing damage. She was jailed with a $250 bond.
—Juvenile, 15, was arrested Saturday on a charge of curfew violation.
—Juvenile, 13, was arrested Saturday on a charge of curfew violation.
Both juveniles were released to guardians.
—Michael Blankenship, 63, of Fourth Street in Berwick, was arrested at 12:37 p.m. Sunday on a charge of 27th offense disturbing the peace by fighting.
—Stephen Ditullio, 57, of Third Street in Berwick, was arrested at 12:37 p.m. Sunday on a charge of disturbing the peace by fighting.
Officers were dispatched to a local business for two male subjects fighting in the parking lot. Officers arrived on scene and located Blankenship and Ditullio in the parking lot. Witnesses advised that there was a verbal altercation inside the business over a beer and they exited the store and began fighting in the parking lot. Blankenship was jailed with a $296 bond and Ditullio was jailed with a $176 bond.
Morgan City Police Chief James F. Blair reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 109 calls of service and the following arrests were made:
—Kenneth Paul Charrier, 51, of Keith Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 7:21 a.m. Friday on charges of possession of a Schedule I controlled dangerous substance (methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia. Officers were called to a residence on Keith Street about illegal narcotic activity at the residence. Officers came into contact with Carrier and he was found in possession of suspected methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia. He was jailed.
—Brandon Joseph Lancaster, 25, of North Snowden in Baton Rouge, was arrested at 3:22 p.m. Friday on warrants for access device fraud and theft under $1,000. The warrant stems from a complaint filed with the Morgan City Police Department on Oct. 29. Detectives learned the victim’s credit card was stolen. After the theft, the stolen credit card was utilized by the suspect in an attempt to make a financial purchase.
Detectives identified Lancaster as a suspect. A warrant was obtained for his arrest. He was located at the Morgan City Police Department and jailed.
—Lee Paul Pierce, 36, of Egle Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:44 p.m. Friday on charges of domestic abuse battery and domestic abuse child endangerment. Officers were called to an 11th Street residence about a domestic disturbance. Officers learned Pierce had committed a battery on his dating partner in the presence of a juvenile. He was jailed.
—Tina Collier, 54, of South Railroad Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:57 p.m. Friday on charges of battery of a dating partner strangulation and simple battery. Officers were called to a residence on La. 182 for a domestic disturbance. Officers learned Collier had committed a battery by choking her dating partner. She also committed a battery on another person while inside the residence. She was jailed.
—Demetrius Roy Green, 31, of Mike Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 1:03 a.m. Saturday on a charge of resisting an officer and on a warrant for failure to appear. Officers investigating a disturbance at a local business on Brashear Avenue came into contact with Green. A warrants check revealed the 16th District Court held an active warrant for his arrest. When officers attempted to arrest him, he began to pull away from officers. Officers were eventually able to handcuff him and place him under arrest. He was jailed.
—Mai Amador, 37, of Pecos Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:15 a.m. Saturday on a warrant for the charge of theft under $1,000. Amador turned herself into the Morgan City Police Department on an active warrant held by the Morgan City Police Department. The warrants stem from a Nov. 14 complaint filed with the Morgan City Police Department. Amador was identified as making a fraudulent purchase at a local business. She was jailed.
—Austin Williams, 20, of Egle Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:20 a.m. Sunday on charges of possession with intent to distribute synthetic marijuana, resisting an officer and criminal trespassing. Officers attempted to conduct a traffic stop in the area of Federal Avenue and Onstead Street. Williams fled the area on foot. Pursuing officers observed Williams discarding several plastic bags containing suspected synthetic marijuana as he fled. Williams attempted to hide from officers on private property. He was taken into custody and placed under arrest. He was jailed.
—Roslyn Cortez, 54, of Second Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:33 a.m. Sunday on a charge of driving while intoxicated. Officers were called to a North Second Street residence for a disturbance. Officers learned Cortez was one of the parties involved but fled the scene before police arrived. Officers were able to locate the vehicle Cortez was driving and conducted a traffic stop. The officer suspected driver impairment so a field sobriety test was given and Cortez performed poorly on the test. She was placed under arrest and transported to the Morgan City Police Department. Once at the Morgan City Police Department she was given an intoxilyzer test. She submitted a breath sample of .148g%. She was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith advised that the Sheriff’s Office responded to 109 complaints and the following arrests were made:
—Brandon Joseph Lancaster, 25, of Snowden Avenue in Baton Rouge, was arrested at 9:42 a.m. Friday on charges of driving under suspension, speeding and on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of attempted theft and access device fraud.
A deputy was stationary on U.S. 90 facing east when he observed a vehicle traveling over the posted speed limit. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Lancaster. The deputy was advised by dispatch that Lancaster’s license was suspended and that he held an active warrant for his arrest. He was jailed.
—Crystal Todd Billiot, 42, of Shannon Street in Patterson, was arrested at 5:08 p.m. Friday on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and improper display of license plates. A deputy was patrolling the area of Lake Palourde Road when he observed a vehicle with no license plate. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Billiot, and drug paraphernalia was found. She was arrested and released on a summons to appear on March 11.
—Destiny James Landry, 44, of Robin’s Nest Road in Lafayette, was arrested at 10:49 p.m. Friday on a charge of driving under suspension. A deputy was patrolling the area of Jupiter Street in Bayou Vista when he observed a vehicle make a turn without giving a proper signal. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Landry. Dispatch advised that Landry’s license was suspended. She was arrested and released on a summons to appear on March 11.
—Frank Antonio Mackenzie, 38, of Paula Drive in Thibodaux, was arrested at 12:52 a.m. Saturday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of theft and resisting an officer by providing false information. A transportation deputy made contact with Mckenzie when he transported him to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center from another agency. He was jailed with bail set at $1,500.
—Preston Darnell Keith Davis, 29, of Louisiana Avenue in Lafayette, was arrested at 1:45 a.m. Sunday on charges of theft and resisting arrest or officer. A deputy was dispatched to a local business in Bayou Vista in reference to a shoplifting complaint. The deputy made contact with business personnel, who stated that Davis had walked out of the business with merchandise for which he had not paid and left in a vehicle with two other persons. Deputies located the vehicle, which fled when they attempted to conduct a traffic stop. Eventually, the vehicle came to a stop in Franklin and the deputies made contact with two subjects. Through the investigation, the merchandise was found and Davis jailed. He was later released on a $5,000 bond.
—Amber Brooke Fendley, 34, of Crenshaw Street in Berwick, was arrested at 1:36 a.m. Sunday on charges of stop signs and yield signs, driving under suspension, possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts possession of Schedule II controlled dangerous substance (Adderall), possession of a Schedule IV controlled dangerous substance (Xanax), possession of controlled dangerous substance in a drug-free zone and illegal use of controlled dangerous substances in the presence of a person under 17 years of age.
A deputy was patrolling the area of Saturn Road in Bayou Vista when he observed a vehicle fail to stop at a stop sign. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Fendley, and a juvenile passenger. Dispatch advised that Fendley’s license was suspended. The deputy located pills for which Fendley had no prescription. She was jailed with no bail set.
—Elviz Veliz-Gonzalez, 38, of Sydney Jo Lane in Berwick, was arrested at 6:48 p.m. Saturday on an active warrant for simple battery. Deputies working a detail made contact with Gonzalez, who held an active warrant for his arrest. He was jailed and later released on an $800 bond.
—Deonte D. Levier, 22, of Charlotte Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 4:02 p.m. Sunday on charges of hit and run and driver must be licensed.
A deputy was dispatched to the area of U.S. 90 East in Bayou Vista in reference to a hit-and-run crash.
The deputy made contact with a person who stated that she witnessed a vehicle backing out of a parking space and striking another vehicle. The deputy learned that the vehicle was registered to Levier and subsequently located it at a residence on Charlotte Drive in Patterson. The deputy learned that Levier was the driver of the vehicle. He was arrested and released on a summons to appear on March 11.
—Tyler Paul Ray, 32, of Miracle Street in Bourg, was arrested at 5:40 p.m. Sunday on a warrant for failure to appear on the charges of operating a vehicle while intoxicated, possession of alcoholic beverages in motor vehicle and speeding.
A transportation deputy made contact with Ray when he transported him to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center from another agency. Ray was jailed and later released on a $500 bond.
—Hugo Flores, 23, of Traffic Street in Bossier City, was arrested at 6:45 p.m. Sunday on a charge of disturbing the peace intoxicated. A deputy was dispatched to the Siracusa Recreation Center in reference to a male subject urinating by his vehicle in view of children.
The deputy made contact with witnesses who stated that Flores had urinated by his vehicle which was parked close to the soccer field. He was jailed and later released on a $1,000 bond.
Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported the following arrests:
—Tron Vernell Grogan, 37, of David Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 9:46 p.m. Saturday on a charge of driving under suspension. He was jailed and released on a $437 bond.