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A 40-year-old man was charged Friday in Patterson with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, Police Chief Garrett Grogan said in a news release.

—Darius Brown, 40, of Clements Street in Patterson, was arrested at 4:31 a.m. Friday on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of Schedule II drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia. No bail was set.

Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported that officers responded to 50 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Savana White, 19, of Aristile Road in Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested at 8:15 a.m. Thursday on a warrant charging her with two counts of failure to appear in court. White was located at the police department and arrested on a city court warrant. She was jailed.

—Robert Paul Stansbury Jr., 35, of Chaisson Road in Abbeville, was arrested at 9:50 a.m. Thursday on a warrant charging him with two counts of direct contempt of court. Stansbury was located at the police department and arrested on a city court warrant. He was jailed.

—Darrell Riggins, 29, of Glenwood Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:10 p.m. Thursday on a warrant charging him with possession of marijuana first offense and illegal use of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a person under 21 years old.

Riggins was located in city court and arrested on a warrant. The warrant stems from an Aug. 9, 2018, investigation when officers came into contact with Riggins. During the investigation, he was found in possession of suspected marijuana, Blair said. At the conclusion of the investigation, an arrest warrant was issued for Riggins. He was jailed.

—Deondra Franklin Walker, 22, of Federal Avenue in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:51 p.m. Thursday on a 16th Judicial District Court warrant charging her with failure to appear.

An officer conducted a traffic stop on La. 182 and identified the driver as Walker. A warrant check revealed an active warrant for her arrest. She was jailed.

Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported the following arrests:

—Jordan Gant, 29, of Ponte des Mouton in Lafayette, was arrested at 9:24 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of open container. He posted $301 cash bail.

—Anthony Gant, 37, of O Street in Patterson, was arrested at 11:15 a.m. Thursday on an Acadia Parish Sheriff’s Office warrant charging him with failure to appear in court. He was transported to Acadia Parish jail.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that deputies responded to 30 complaints in the parish and reported no arrests in east St. Mary Parish.

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Religious leaders are trying to build support for ending Louisiana’s use of the death penalty, a proposal that has repeatedly failed to gain the backing of state lawmakers.
Two dozen clergy representing Catholic and Protestant churches spoke Thursday on the Louisiana Capitol steps in favor of proposals by Republican Sen. Dan Claitor, of Baton Rouge, and Democratic Rep. Terry Landry, of New Iberia, to eliminate executions in the state.
House lawmakers spurned similar proposals for the last two years.
The Rev. Dan Krutz, executive director of the Louisiana Interchurch Conference, said church leaders aren’t giving up and will return year after year in their bid to end capital punishment.
“People of the Gospel must reject capital punishment as a way of dealing with crime because death does not restore, heal or make whole what was lost. Death only causes more death,” he said, reading from a resolution adopted by the conference.
Asked if he’s seen any increased interest for the legislation from lawmakers, Krutz said passage may be even tougher in a statewide election year. But he added: “Surprises happen.”
No lawmakers stood with the religious leaders in endorsing the bills.
Louisiana’s last lethal injection was in 2010. Seventy condemned inmates are awaiting execution, but capital punishment has been stalled in the state.
Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards’ administration says it can’t obtain lethal injection drugs because companies don’t want to be publicly associated with executions. Republican Former Gov. Bobby Jindal’s administration described similar difficulties.
While Claitor and Landry are proposing to halt the death penalty, Republican Rep. Nicholas Muscarello of Hammond has a measure aimed at trying to restart lethal injections in Louisiana.
Muscarello is proposing to make secret any information about the person or company that manufactures, supplies, or transports drugs for an execution. The legislation was suggested by Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry as a way to help resume executions.
None of the bills have been scheduled yet for debate.
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House Bill 215 and Senate Bill 112: www.legis.la.gov

The LaGrange Karate Club held its annual Exhibition Tuesday at the LaGrange Elementary School Gymnasium. Members of all ages participated in several events. Above, youngsters break boards before parents, relatives, friends and instructors who attended the annual event.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith reported the following arrests:
Melissa Anne Castillo, 28, of 599 Katherine St., Jeanerette, was arrested Wednesday at 8:36 a.m. on charges of failure to signal and driving under suspension.
A deputy was traveling westbound on La. 182 approaching Yokely Road in Franklin when he observed a vehicle pass another vehicle without using a turn signal. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle and contact was made with the driver, identified as Castillo. A background check revealed Castillo was driving under suspension. She was issued a summons.
Delvin Devon Darby, 26, of 323 Second St., Franklin, was arrested Wednesday at 11:45 a.m. on charges of turning movements and required signals and driving under suspension.
A deputy was patrolling the area of Martin Luther King Boulevard near Bollard Street in Baldwin when he observed a vehicle fail to use the proper turn signal. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle and contact was made with the driver, identified as Darby. A background check on revealed Darby was driving under suspension. He was issued a summons.
Albert Joseph Stevens II, 45, of 301 David Road, Bayou Vista, was arrested Wednesday at 11:50 a.m. on warrants for failure to appear for the charge of two counts of issuing worthless checks.
Stevens was located at the Assumption Parish Jail on the above-mentioned warrants. He was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Bond was set at $2,000.
Sarah Rosa Cole Ambrose, 28, of 906 Federal Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested Wednesday at 8:33 p.m. on charges of no headlights, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.
A deputy was patrolling the area of Teche Road at the intersection of La. 182 in Bayou Vista when he observed a vehicle with only one operational headlight. A traffic stop was conducted on the vehicle and contact was made with the driver, identified as Ambrose. While speaking with Ambrose, the deputy could smell the odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle. Consent to search her purse was granted. Upon the search of her purse, the deputy located burnt marijuana cigarettes and drug paraphernalia. Ambrose was issued a summons.
Varice Kevin Richardson, 25, of 161 Friendship Alley, Amelia, was arrested Thursday at 12:15 a.m. on the charge of domestic abuse battery and warrants from the Morgan City Police Department for failure to appear on the charge of simple battery and failure to appear on the charge of contempt of court.
A deputy was dispatched to 161 Friendship Alley in Amelia in reference to a disturbance. Upon arrival, the deputy questioned Richardson, who admitted to pushing the victim. A background check on Richardson revealed the active warrants. He was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Bond has been set at $3,102.
John Paul Dehart Jr., 35, of 142 Pitre St., Houma, was arrested Thursday at 2:06 p.m. on warrants for failure to appear on the charge of two counts of criminal neglect of family.
Dehart was located at the Terrebonne Parish Detention Center. He was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Bond has been set at $15,057.
Walter Baker Jr., 57, 616 ½ Twelfth St., Franklin, was arrested Thursday at 3:40 p.m. on a warrant for failure to appear for imposition hearing for the charge of criminal neglect of family.
Baker was located at 620 Willow St. in Franklin, on the above-mentioned warrant. He was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Bond has been set at $21,088.
Anthony Tony Bourda Jr., 38, of 511 Seventh St., A, Franklin, was arrested Thursday at 6:06 p.m. on a warrant for failure to appear for imposition hearing for the charge of criminal neglect of family.
Bourda was located at 505 Robinson St. in Franklin, on the above-mentioned warrant. He was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Bond has been set at $17,153.