RSS Feed

Radio logs for March 27

The following are the radio dispatch logs from the Morgan City Police Department. To report unlawful or suspicious activity, call the police department at 985-380-4605.

Tuesday, March 26

7:09 a.m. 8400 block of La. 182; Alarm.

9:26 a.m. 7000 block of La. 182; Theft.

9:37 a.m. 300 block of Fifth Street; Medical.

10:45 a.m. 7200 block of La. 182; Medical.

10:46 a.m. Maple and Palm streets; Utilities.

1:58 p.m. 1100 block of Marguerite Street; Assistance.

2:09 p.m. 500 block of Egle Street; Harassment.

2:11 p.m. 500 block of General MacArthur Street; Disturbance.

2:43 p.m. 2400 block of Tiger Drive; Complaint.

2:57 p.m. 300 block of Cardinal Street; Assistance.

3:14 p.m. Railroad and Federal avenues; Frequent patrols.

3:40 p.m. 800 block of Willard Street; Medical.

4:41 p.m. Marquis Manor; Alarm.

6:51 p.m. Egle Street; Warrants.

7:35 p.m. 300 block of Egle Street; Removal of subject.

7:44 p.m. 1500 block of Bernice Street; Medical emergency.

7:48 p.m. 2100 block of Sixth Street; Complaint.

7:50 p.m. 7500 block of La. 182 East; Complaint.

8:24 p.m. 200 block of Terrebonne Street; Domestic disturbance.

9:15 p.m. 7600 block of La. 182 East; Alarm.

10:39 p.m. 200 block of Glenwood Street; Loud music.

Wednesday, March 27

1:48 a.m. 1000 block of Greenwood Street; Alarm.

2:31 a.m. 600 block of Barrow Street; Complaint.

Plans for Morgan City trail move forward

Imagine being able to walk, run or ride a bicycle on a paved trail that encompasses all of Morgan City. That’s what community leaders hope to make a reality. The City Council approved a resolution Tuesday to submit three grants through the Federal Highway Administration’s Recreational Trails Program to fund construction of portions of the biking and walking trail in the city. H&B Young Foundation has agreed to fund the matching local funds required should the city receive future grants and pay engineering firm, T. Baker Smith, to design a master plan for the trail to get a better idea ...

PLEASE LOG IN FOR PREMIUM CONTENT. Our website requires visitors to log in to view the best local news from St. Mary Now. Not yet a subscriber? Subscribe today!

Sheriff: Marijuana, paraphernalia found in home search

A 19-year-old Bayou Vista man was booked on drug charges after detectives searched his home and found marijuana and drug paraphernalia, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith said in a news release.

—Brennan Giandelone, 19, of 3 B’s Lane in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 4:27 p.m. Monday on charges of possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute over 14 grams, possession of drug paraphernalia and violation of controlled dangerous substance law in a drug-free zone.

Narcotics detectives executed a search warrant in the 100 block of 3 B’s Lane in Bayou Vista. During the search, detectives located marijuana and drug paraphernalia, Smith said. The home is located within 2,000 feet of a church. Giandelone was jailed with no bail set.

Smith reported that deputies responded to 35 complaints and reported the following arrests:

—Wilbur James Richard Jr., 35, of Muriel Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 11:46 a.m. Monday on a warrant for failure to appear on charges of possession of Alprazolam, possession of drug paraphernalia first offense and possession of marijuana.

Richard was located at the Morgan City Police Department jail. He was transported to St. Mary Parish jail on the warrant. Bail was set at $10,000.

—Ricky Joseph Lightsey, 43, of Sixth Street in Berwick, was arrested at 9:31 p.m. Monday on a warrant charging him with battery of a dating partner.

—Donna Sue Mayon, 53, of Lori Lane in Patterson, was arrested at 9:31 p.m. Monday on a charge of battery of a dating partner.

A deputy went to Lori Lane in Patterson to conduct a follow up investigation. Upon arrival, the deputy spoke with Lightsey and Mayon about the altercation between the two that occurred Sunday. After speaking with both subjects, they admitted to being involved in a physical altercation with one another, Smith said.

Lightsey had an active warrant for battery of a dating partner. Mayon was then arrested due to her involvement in the altercation. Both were jailed with no bail set.

—Stephanie Lightfoot, 56, of Filmore Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:01 a.m. Tuesday on a charge of driving under suspension.

A deputy patrolling the area of Cypress Street in Amelia observed a vehicle fail to use a turn signal. Upon conducting a traffic stop, Lightfoot was identified as the driver. A background check on Lightfoot revealed she was driving under suspension, Smith said. Lightfoot was issued a summons to appear in court June 19.

—Dat H. Duong, 52, of Glenwood Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:37 p.m. Monday on charges of stop signs and yield signs violation, possession of crack cocaine and violation of controlled dangerous substance law in a drug-free zone.

Narcotics detectives were patrolling the area of Siracusaville when they observed a vehicle fail to stop at a stop sign. Detectives conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, identified as Duong.

After questioning Duong, he gave consent to search his vehicle. Upon searching the vehicle, detectives found crack cocaine, the sheriff said. The location of the traffic stop was within 2,000 feet of a church. Duong was jailed with no bail set.

—Brennan Skinner, 26, of Grace Street in Siracusaville, was arrested at 6:13 p.m. Monday on warrants charging him with two counts of criminal neglect of family and resisting an officer.

—Zacolby L. Granger, 27, of Grace Street in Siracusaville, was arrested at 6:13 p.m. Monday on a warrant charging him with failure to appear for an expired license plate.

—Cedric Benjamin Gant, 21, of Grace Street in Siracusaville, was arrested at 6:13 p.m. Monday on a warrant charging him with littering, obstruction of justice, prohibited acts/drug paraphernalia and unlawful posting of criminal activity.

Narcotics detectives were patrolling the area of Siracusaville and observed Skinner, Granger and Gant in a yard on Grace Street. Detectives knew all three suspects had warrants. Skinner, Granger and Gant were jailed. Skinner’s bail was $3,239.41. Granger’s bail was $100. Gant’s bail was $20,000.

—James P. Tassin, 48, of Lake Arrowhead Road in Harvey, was arrested at 12:33 a.m. Tuesday on charges of failure to signal, possession of schedule I drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A K9 unit patrolling the Amelia area when he observed a vehicle fail to use a turn signal. A traffic stop was conducted and the deputy identified the driver as Tassin.

He appeared nervous while speaking to the deputy. The deputy asked for consent to search the vehicle, which Tassin denied, the sheriff said.

K9 Buddy was deployed to conduct an open-air sniff. K9 Buddy was alerted to the presence of drugs in the vehicle. During the search of the vehicle, marijuana was found along with drug paraphernalia, Smith said. Tassin was issued a summons to appear in court June 19.

Morgan City Police Chief James Blair reported that officers responded to 43 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Joshua Paul Francois, 27, of Wren Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8 a.m. Monday on a warrant charging him with failure to appear pay a probation fee and a charge of probation violation.

Francois was located at parish jail and arrested on a city court warrant. He was transported to the Morgan City Police Department.

—Desmond Jerrod Richard, 37, of Mike Drive in Patterson, was arrested at 12:05 p.m. Monday on warrants charging him with three counts of failure to appear to pay fines, three counts of contempt of court and one count of probation violation.

Richard was located at the Patterson Police Department and arrested on warrants for City Court of Morgan City. He was jailed.

—Colby Tyrese Nicholas, 19, of Wren Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:29 p.m. Monday on a warrant charging him with criminal trespassing and a 16th Judicial District Court warrant charging him with four counts of failure to appear.

An officer came into contact with Nicholas on Egle Street. Nicholas had warrants for police and district court. He was jailed.

—Rebecca Martin, 47, of Fifth Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:53 p.m. Monday on a charge of remaining after forbidden.

An officer responded to a Willow Street home in reference to a person refusing to leave the property. Officers learned from the homeowner that Martin came to the home and was refusing to leave, Blair said. Martin was given several opportunities to leave the home but refused to leave, Blair said. She was jailed.

—Jonathan Jermaine Motte, 35, of Oak Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:04 p.m. Monday on charges of resisting an officer, possession of marijuana first offense, possession of methamphetamine (2 grams to 28 grams) and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law-drug-free zone.

An officer patrolling Egle Street came into contact with Motte on Morgan City Housing Authority property. While officers were speaking to Motte, they noticed Motte was holding a plastic bag containing suspected marijuana, Blair said.

When officers attempted to arrest Motte, he pulled away and began fleeing the arresting officer. While Motte was eluding the officer he attempted to discard the suspect marijuana, Blair said. He was taken into custody by the pursuing officer.

During the search of Motte, police found suspected drug paraphernalia, Blair said. Once at the police department, officers located a bag containing suspected methamphetamine he had concealed on his body, Blair said. Motte was jailed.

—Gregory Warren Ballance, 20, of Morgan City, was arrested at 3:34 a.m. Tuesday on warrants charging him with failure to appear to pay a fine and probation violation.

Ballance was located at Berwick Police Department and arrested on warrants for City Court of Morgan City. He was jailed. Berwick police had arrested Ballance on the warrants at 1:30 a.m. Tuesday

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

—Brian Ott, 39, of Mount Street in Berwick, was arrested at 4:05 a.m. Tuesday on charges of driving under suspension, no vehicle registration and no insurance. Bail was set at $378.

Police: Suspect severely beat 82-year-old man

A suspect has been arrested after severely beating an 82-year-old man Sunday night in Patterson, Police Chief Garrett Grogan said.

Jarrett A. Williams, 41, of Second Street in Patterson, was arrested at 11:10 a.m. Monday on a charge of second-degree battery on the infirm with medical attention required. No bail was set yet.

Williams is accused of severely beating an 82-year-old man Sunday night in the area of Domino Drive in Patterson. Police didn’t find any weapons at the scene that Williams could have used in the attack, Grogan said. As of Tuesday morning, the victim was in intensive care at a hospital. Investigators haven’t found any possible motive for the attack, the chief said.

PATRICIA DOTHEROW LINN

April 6, 1945- March 24, 2019
Patricia Dotherow Linn, 73, a resident of Patterson, passed away Sunday, March 24, 2019, at Patterson Health Care Center surrounded by her loving family.
Patricia was born April 6, 1945, in Alexandria, the daughter of John and Hazel Smith Dotherow.
Patricia loved to sing gospel music, as well as play her piano. She enjoyed crossword puzzles, going to church, and spending as much time as possible with her grandchild, Kade.
She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by one son, Stoney Linn Jr. and wife Naomi of New Iberia; two daughters, Karen Rodgers of Patterson and Margret Lopez and husband Luis of Bayou Vista; two brothers, Danny Dotherow and wife Pam and James Dotherow, both of Pineville; one sister, Mary Vercher of Pineville; one grandson, Kade Linn; another special grandchild, Halie Allemond Toups; and four grand-dogs, Lola, Molly, Mackie and Dutchess.
Patricia was preceded in death by her husband, Stoney Linn Sr.; parents, John and Hazel Dotherow; son-in-law, Tim Rodgers; and grand-dog, Rosie.
Services will be held Wednesday, March 27, 2019, at Bayou Vista Baptist Church with Pastor Steven Kelly and Brother Charles Gilder officiating. Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 27, 2019, at Bayou Vista Baptist Church from 9 a.m. until the time of service. After the services, Patricia will be laid to rest in Berwick Cemetery Mausoleum.

DONNIE JACKSON FELTON

March 18, 1942-March 25, 2019
Donnie Jackson Felton, a resident of Morgan City, passed away peacefully Monday, March 25, 2019, at the age of 77.
Donnie lived for her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She loved to cook and care for her family. Her grandchildren were the joy of her life. She loved to dance, play cards, and watch TBN or old westerns. Donnie will be greatly missed by her family, but they are at peace knowing she served the Lord.
She is finally reunited with her sons, Terry Lee Felton and Richard Dale Felton and a beloved brother and sister, Jerry Jackson Sr. and Mary Jackson Carter. She is also preceded in death by her parents, Ernest and Alice Jackson, and her favorite Aunt Ruby Babin.
Those left to cherish Donnie’s memory are: daughters, Elizabeth Ann Felton of Morgan City; her children Joey and Brooke Miller, Charlesia (Christy) Christina White and her husband Shane of Morgan City; sons, David Neal Felton of Larose and his wife Cindy Williams Felton; their children, Davin and his wife Katy Champine Felton, Koby and Krista Felton; Brandon Alan Felton and his wife Jennifer Gaudet Felton of Patterson; their children Madelyn and Katelyn Felton. She had two great-grandchildren, Bentley Felton and Jacob Miller, and loving sister-in-law Viola Jackson.
The family request that a time of visitation be observed on Wednesday, March 27, 2019 from 9 a.m. until time of service at Healing Stream Ministries in Bayou Vista. A Christian burial will be held for Donnie at noon at Healing Stream Ministries with Donnie being laid to rest at the Morgan City Cemetery following the service.
Acting as pallbearers are David Felton, Brandon Felton, Davin Felton, Koby Felton, Joey Miller and Shane White. Honorary pallbearers are Steven Recinos and Jared Recinos.
“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.” 2 Timothy 4:7-8

TRUDY METREJEAN SANFORD

March 3, 1955- March 24, 2019
Trudy Metrejean Sanford, 64, a resident of Morgan City, passed away Sunday, March 24, 2019, at Teche Regional Medical Center.
Trudy was born March 3, 1955, in Napoleonville, the daughter of Ulysse Metrejean and Roseanna Verrett Gros.
Trudy was a taxi driver for 25 years in her small hometown of Morgan City. She loved life and was always dancing. Trudy enjoyed playing games on the computer and reading books; she was a very smart lady.
She will be sadly missed and lovingly remembered by her son, Christopher “Chris” Metrejean and wife Mirada of Conroe, Texas; two daughters, Tara Harford of Morgan City and Shawna Martinez and husband John of Shepherd, Texas; step-son, Brian Johnson; three brothers, Everett “Cisco” Gros and wife Melinda of Pierre Part, and Robert Gros and Purcell Gros, both of Morgan City; two sisters, Vickie Taylor and husband Perry of Arkansas and Juliet Gros of Morgan City; and seven grandchildren, Brittiany Pittman, Christina Pittman, Clayton Martinez, Tabitha Martinez, Ryan Martinez, Arianna Daigle and Christopher Metrejean.
Trudy was preceded in death by her son, Avery Metrejean; parents, Ulysse Metrejean and Roseanna Gros; step-father, Clarence Gros Sr.; one brother, Clarence “Poncho” Gros Jr.; and one sister, Norma Gros.
Visitation will be held Wednesday, March 27, 2019, at Twin City Funeral Home from 5 p.m. until 9 p.m.

Louisiana attorney general: Edwards’ budget proposal illegal

BATON ROUGE (AP) — Gov. John Bel Edwards’ budget proposal for next year violates the Louisiana Constitution, Republican Attorney General Jeff Landry said in a legal opinion issued Friday that marks his latest dust-up with the Democratic governor.
A legal opinion doesn’t carry the force of law. But it could be used as the foundation for a lawsuit if House Republican leader Lance Harris, who requested the opinion, or another GOP lawmaker decided to challenge the governor in court.
Landry is wading into an ongoing feud.
Across four months of meetings, Republican House Speaker Taylor Barras or his surrogate has blocked income forecast changes recommended by nonpartisan economists and sought by the governor. The last financial forecast was adopted in June, without the improved expectations of economists and without billions that agencies expect to receive from revenue sources.
Rather than use what the administration called unrealistic and outdated numbers, Edwards gave lawmakers a budget proposal in February that assumes the money will eventually be recognized during the legislative session that starts April 8. His spending recommendations include new dollars for a teacher pay raise, along with other education and health care increases.
Landry’s office said the constitution requires the governor to recommend a budget in line with the fore-cast.
“The constitution requires that the governor submit a budget containing revenues ‘which shall not exceed the official forecast of the Reve-nue Estimating Conference.’ The governor clearly violated this provision,” the opinion released by the attorney general says.
The Edwards administration claims the House Republicans are in violation of a law requiring the state income forecasting panel to revise its projections by January and says it couldn’t meet the legal requirements on the budget filing because the forecasting law wasn’t followed.
“The attorney general’s entitled to his opinion. We just think he happens to be wrong in this instance,” Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne, the governor’s chief budget adviser, said Friday.
Because legislators start crafting next year’s budget when the session begins, Dardenne said he doesn’t anticipate a lawsuit.
“There would be no purpose in doing that, because there would be no end game that could be satisfied,” he said. “This whole legal issue is moot, really.”
The Revenue Estimating Conference is expected to meet within the first week of session to debate whether Barras has changed his mind and will allow the increase so the House can spend the money in its budget proposal.
Economists recommended the forecast boosts, saying they were conservative adjustments based on tax collections and economic modeling. Dardenne, Republican Senate President John Alario and the independent economist on the forecasting panel backed the changes. But Barras said Louisiana’s economy was too unstable and the adjustments were too soon.
The Edwards administrtion accused Barras of trying to manipulate the financial projections to keep the governor from proposing the budget he wanted with teacher pay raises included.

Louisiana Spotlight: Budget tension rises as session draws near

BATON ROUGE — Conservative House Republicans don’t intend for Louisiana’s newfound budget stability to end the state’s financial battles, particularly in an election year that could be viewed as a referendum on Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards’ handling of state spending.
A joint House and Senate budget meeting last week offered a preview of the financial disputes on the horizon for the two-month legislative session that begins in April. House Republicans and the Edwards administration tangled at the meeting with raised voices, jabs about election-year politicking, and traded allegations that laws were being violated.
The dividing lines remain the same, with a segment of conservative House Republicans, including House GOP leaders, at odds with the Edwards administration over tax policy, spending levels, and the growth of government.
The tactics have altered slightly, with fights focused on the state’s income projections and the mechanics of filing budget documents. But the philosophical disagreements and the politics are the same — amped up by statewide elections only months away, in which Edwards is seeking re-election against Republican opponents, and lawmakers are vying to keep their seats or move to new positions.
The latest skirmishes kicked off a few months ago when House Speaker Taylor Barras and House Appropriations Chairman Cameron Henry, both Republicans, blocked increases to state income projections.
Nonpartisan economists recommended the forecast boosts. The Edwards administration and Republican Senate President John Alario, an ally of the governor, backed the changes. But Barras and Henry said Louisiana’s economy was too unstable to justify the adjustments.
The Edwards administration accused the House leaders of trying to manipulate financial projections to keep the governor from proposing the budget he wanted with teacher pay raises included.
Rather than be bound to a forecast without the economists’ latest figures, Edwards gave the Legislature a budget proposal in February that was a wish list, assuming the money would eventually be recognized during the session. The governor included the teacher raise, along with other education and health spending hikes.
Republicans didn’t immediately object to the budget proposal, but House GOP leader Lance Harris and Republican Rep. Rick Edmonds raised concerns a month later at Tuesday’s joint budget meeting.
Edmonds suggested Edwards violated the state constitution, by not matching the spending plans to available, recognized revenue. Commissioner of Administration Jay Dardenne, the governor’s top budget adviser, said Barras hadn’t followed state law requiring the Revenue Estimating Conference to “revise the official forecast for the ensuing fiscal year” by January. The last financial forecast for the upcoming year was adopted in June, without the improved expectations of economists and without billions that agencies expect to receive from fees, fines, and other revenue sources.
Edmonds, of Baton Rouge, said the governor’s budget proposal “puts us in the predicament of a useless document” that he described as “in violation of the Louisiana Constitution.”
In an exchange that grew increasingly tense, Dardenne said: “It is not in violation of the Louisiana Constitution, and no one has seen fit to file suit and contend that.”
Harris, of Alexandria, questioned the precedent Edwards set by offering an aspirational budget that doesn’t match the official revenue forecast.
Dardenne replied: “It’s not a bad precedent for any future governor because hopefully we’re never going to be in this situation again where we play these games about what the revenue of the state is.”
Left unquestioned was why House Republican leaders who have touted independence would care if they got an accurate budget proposal from Edwards or not, since they criticize his approach to state spending and likely would want to heavily rewrite his budget.
Harris transitioned to Edwards’ questionable campaign talking point that he and lawmakers cut taxes last year, particularly since over the course of the governor’s full term since 2016, taxes have increased and people are paying more.
“I’m just trying to make that math work,” Harris said.
Dardenne suggested that if lawmakers in the majority-GOP Legislature think taxes are too high, they can offer a specific list of where they’d like to cut spending.
“Heretofore, I have not seen a willingness to say, ‘Here’s what I don’t want to fund anymore,’ “ he told Harris.
Expect that tense tone and accusation trading to continue into the legislative session that starts in two weeks and well beyond that, until the October election.
Melinda Deslatte has covered Louisiana politics for The Associated Press since 2000. Follow her at http://twitter.com/melindadeslatte

EDWARD VALENTINE JR.

Edward Valentine Jr. 64, a native of Morgan City and resident of Lake Placid, Florid, died Monday, March 4, 2019, in Lake Placid, Florida.
Services have already been held.

Pages

ST. MARY NOW

Franklin Banner-Tribune
P.O. Box 566, Franklin, LA 70538
Phone: 337-828-3706
Fax: 337-828-2874

Morgan City Review
1014 Front Street, Morgan City, LA 70380
Phone: 985-384-8370
Fax: 985-384-4255