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Morgan City police charged a Houma man with DWI fourth offense after the suspect refused to take a field sobriety test or chemical test, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—Richard J. Cook, 48, of Cypress Village in Houma, was arrested at 12:21 p.m. Thursday on charges of DWI fourth offense, improper lane usage, driving under suspension, following vehicles, possession of alcoholic beverage in a vehicle, no registration and on a warrant charging him with sexual battery.

An officer in the area of U.S. 90 near the Martin Luther King Boulevard exit, observed a vehicle swerving in and out the lane of travel. A traffic stop was conducted, and the driver, Cook, appeared intoxicated, Blair said.

Cook refused to perform a field sobriety test, and the officer also noticed an open container of an alcoholic beverage inside the vehicle, Blair said.

A computer check revealed that Cook’s driver’s license was suspended, and he also had a warrant for his arrest through the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office. Once the police department, Cook refused to submit to the chemical test for intoxication, Blair said.

A warrant was obtained to have a blood sample withdrawn from Cook. Cook was transported to a medical facility for the sample to be drawn. The results of the sample are pending. Cook was transported back to the Morgan City Police Department. Reports indicate that Cook had three prior arrests for driving while intoxicated, Blair said. Cook was jailed.

Blair reported that officers responded to 54 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Thalassa Frickey, 41, of Pecos Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:50 p.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear on a charge of theft of goods. Frickey was arrested at the police department on a 16th Judicial District Court warrant. Frickey was jailed.

—Andronique M. Lemons, 28, of Maine Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2 p.m. Thursday on a warrant charging her with failure to pay probation fees. Lemons was transported from St. Mary Parish jail to the Morgan City Police Department jail on a city court warrant.

—Deon D. Turner, 36, of Joseph Lane in Franklin, was arrested at 1:50 p.m. Thursday on charges of improper lane usage and driving under suspension and on a warrant charging him with failure to appear for arraignment.

—Kevin Diggs, 40, of Roys Lane in Franklin, was arrested at 1:50 p.m. Thursday on a warrant charging him with probation violation.

An officer in the area of La. 182 near Martin Luther King Boulevard observed a vehicle swerving in and out the lane of travel. A traffic stop was conducted, and the driver was identified as Turner, who had a suspended driver’s license, Blair said.

Turner also had an active warrant for 16th Judicial District Court. The passenger in the vehicle, Diggs, had a warrant for his arrest through city court. Both Turner and Diggs were jailed.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that deputies responded to 25 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:

—Charlie Williams Jr., 40, of 79 Pines Lane in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 11:08 a.m. Thursday on a warrant for failure to appear on a charge of possession of marijuana.

A deputy patrolling Bayou Vista was dispatched to a home on 79 Pines Lane in reference to a disturbance. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with Williams and was informed by dispatch of an active warrant for his arrest. Williams was booked into jail and then released on $250 bail.

—Tra Acosta, 22, of Leo Street in Patterson, was arrested at 6:19 p.m. Thursday on a charge of reckless operation.

On Wednesday, a deputy patrolling Bayou Vista was dispatched to a business in reference to a reckless driver complaint. Upon arrival, the deputy made contact with business personnel who provided video footage of a vehicle driving recklessly.

A day later, the deputy was investigating a separate incident when he saw the vehicle matching the description of the vehicle on the video footage. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Acosta. Through the stop, Acosta admitted to the reckless operation, Smith said. Acosta was released on a summons to appear in court April 4.

—Kristy Carter, 41, of Jupiter Street in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 4:10 p.m. Thursday on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of gabapentin and improper lane use.

Detectives with the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Section were patrolling Bayou Vista when they observed a vehicle cross the fog line on La. 182. The detectives conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, Carter. Through the stop, the detectives found drugs in the vehicle, Smith said. Carter was booked into jail and then released on $2,250 bail.

Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported no arrests.

Berwick Police Chief David Leonard reported no arrests.

Patterson police are seeking the public help's for information in two separate reports of shots fired in the city this week.
The first incident occurred Tuesday on Taft Street, and the second incident happened Thursday night on Bernard Street.
Anyone with any info on either incident should contact the Patterson Police Department at 985-395-6161.

A new report estimates that nearly half of all U.S. adults have some form of heart or blood vessel disease, a medical milestone that’s mostly due to recent guidelines that expanded how many people have high blood pressure.
The American Heart Association said Thursday that more than 121 million adults had cardiovascular disease in 2016. Taking out those with only high blood pressure leaves 24 million, or 9 percent of adults, who have other forms of disease such as heart failure or clogged arteries.
Measuring the burden of diseases shows areas that need to improve, the heart association’s chief science and medical officer, Dr. Mariell Jessup, said in a statement.
High blood pressure, which had long been defined as a top reading of at least 140 or a bottom one of 90, dropped to 130 over 80 under guidelines adopted in 2017. It raises the risk for heart attacks, strokes and many other problems, and only about half of those with the condition have it under control.
Being diagnosed with high blood pressure doesn’t necessarily mean you need medication right away; the first step is aiming for a healthier lifestyle, even for those who are prescribed medicine. Poor diets, lack of exercise and other bad habits cause 90 percent of high blood pressure.
The report is an annual statistics update by the heart association, the National Institutes of Health and others.
Other highlights:
—Heart and blood vessel disease is linked to 1 of every 3 deaths in the United States and kills more Americans than all forms of cancer and respiratory diseases like pneumonia combined.
—Certain groups have higher rates than others; 57 percent of black women and 60 percent of black males.
—Coronary heart disease, or clogged or hardened arteries, caused 43 percent of cardiovascular deaths in the U.S., followed by stroke (17 percent), high blood pressure (10 percent) and heart failure (9 percent).