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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 27
7:46 a.m. Franklin; Complaint.
7:54 a.m. Front and Belanger streets; Crash.
8:13 a.m. 7400 block of La. 182; Narcotics complaint.
9:22 a.m. 1900 block of Federal Avenue; Crash.
9:39 a.m. 1000 block of Brashear Avenue; Theft.
10:25 a.m. 400 block of Bowman Street; Battery.
11:59 a.m. 1600 block of North Second Street; Medical.
12:22 p.m. 300 block of Glenwood Street; Medical.
1:19 p.m. 600 block of Leona Street; Suspicious vehicle.
1:52 p.m. 1900 block of Federal Avenue; Disturbance.
3:30 p.m. 6000 block of La. 182; Theft.
4:06 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Arrest.
4:14 p.m. Glenwood Street; Suspicious subject.
5:12 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Search warrant.
5:21 p.m. Ninth Street and Brashear Avenue; Crash.
6:24 p.m. Bowman Street; Theft.
7:08 p.m. 3000 block of Roderick Street; Animal complaint.
7:57 p.m. 1000 block of La. 70; Building check.
8:20 p.m. 6400 block of La. 182 East; Building check.
8:31 p.m. 7000 block of La. 182 East; Complaint.
9:28 p.m. 700 block of Myrtle Street; Assistance.
9:36 p.m. 1500 block of Nevada Street; Assistance.
10:45 p.m. 1200 block of Victor II Boulevard; Building check.
11:47 p.m. 7400 block of La. 182 East; Medical emergency.
Wednesday, March 28
2:47 a.m. 6400 block of La. 182 East; Suspicious vehicle.
3:20 a.m. 2400 block of Sixth Street; Building check.
3:24 a.m. Short Street; Suspicious person.
5:44 a.m. 1000 block of Brashear Avenue; Complaint.
Edward Broussard, age 57, a native and a resident of Jeanerette, passed away on Friday, March 23 at 1:30 a.m. at his residence.
Visitation will be held on Thursday, March 29, 2018 at Jones Funeral Home Chapel in Franklin, from 9 a.m. until funeral service at 11 a.m. Burial following in the Sorrell Community Cemetery.
Edward leaves to cherish his memories; his companion of fourteen years, Ms. Shirley Ann Williams of Jeanerette; two daughters, Christy Ann Chassion of New Iberia, La., and Crystal Dixson of Beaumont, TX; five brothers, Peter Lumpkin, Jr., and Edarryl Lumpkin both of New Iberia, La., and Jerry Sorrell of Four Corners, Sander Sorrell of Houston, TX., and Gilord Sorrell of Humble, TX; four sisters, Veronica Clay and Dora Ann Sutton both of Jeanerette, La., Albertha Manual of Lydia, La., and Clara Bell Jackson of Four Corners; two grandchildren , sisters-in-law and a host of relatives and friends.
Preceded in death by his parents, three brothers, and stepfather.
Jones Funeral Home of Morgan City-Jeanerette-Franklin-Houma in charge of arrangements.
Visit www.jones-funeral-home.com to send condolences to family.
Homer Brown, age 69, a resident of Franklin, La. passed away on Saturday, March 17, 2018 at 4:11 p.m. at his residence.
Visitation will be held on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at Greater St. Stephen Baptist Church in Franklin, La., from 10 a.m. until funeral service at 1 p.m. Burial will follow in the Franklin Cemetery.
Homer is survived by his wife, Mandy William Brown, four sons, Homer (Latasha) Brown III, Vanshonne (Tessa) Brown, Tevin (Anequia) Brown all of Franklin, La. and Thaddius (Lasondra) Brown, four daughters, Trinette Brown, Danille Brown, Shelly Daniel, and Ariel Brown all of Franklin, La., four sisters, Patsy Lee Babineaux, Carie Daniel, Lucinda Wilson, Sherlene Brown all of Franklin, La., one brother Donald Ray Brown Sr. of Franklin, La., a devoted godchild, Glen (Brenda) Ferguson of Baldwin, La. thirty eight grandchildren, three great grandchildren and host of nieces, nephews and family members.
Jones Funeral Home of Morgan City-Franklin-Jeanerette-Houma in charge of arrangements.
Visit www.jones-funeral-home.com to send condolences to family.
Betty Ann Lee Singleton, 64, a native of Lafourche Parish and a resident of Thibodaux, La., passed away peacefully at 2:55 a.m. on Friday, March 23, 2018.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. until funeral time at the church. The funeral will be at 11 a.m. on Saturday, March 31, 2018 at Allen Chapel AME, 1106 Lagarde St. in Thibodaux. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
She is survived by her son Kentrell Steward; two grandchildren; of brother, Lionel Williams; sisters, Jeanette Williams all of Thibodaux and Audrey Willliams of Franklin; and a host of other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by her husband; two sons, her mother and father, two brothers.
Arrangements entrusted to Jones Funeral Home of Houma-Franklin-Morgan City-Jeanerette.
Visit www.jones-funeral-home.com to send condolences to family.
Nathan S. Brown, age 58, a native of Suffolk, VA and resident of Verdunville, La. passed away at 4:11 p.m. on Wednesday, March 21, 2018 at his residence.
Memorial service will be held on Saturday, March 31 at Jones Funeral Home Chapel, 1101 Main St., Franklin, La., from 10 a.m. until service at 11 a.m. Officiating service, Elder Donald Lanceslin of Hines Memorial Church.
Memories of Nathan Brown also known as “Big Nate” to many will forever remain in the hearts of companion and caregiver, Ann Hunt of Verdunville, La., a brother Larry L. Brown of Philadelphia, PA, a sister Dorothy Riddick of Suffolk, VA, two step children Derrick Hunt and Tatiana Hunt both of Atlanta, GA, one grandson, three nephews and two nieces.
Nathan was preceded in death by his parents and both his maternal and parental grandparents.
Jones Funeral Home of Morgan City-Franklin-Jeanerette-Houma in charge of arrangements.
Visit www.jones-funeral-home.com to send condolences to family.
BATON ROUGE (AP) — Louisiana's attorney general has ruled out criminal charges against two white Baton Rouge police officers in the fatal shooting of a black man outside a convenience store.
Attorney General Jeff Landry's decision Tuesday comes nearly 11 months after the Justice Department ruled out federal criminal charges in Alton Sterling's July 2016 death.
Landry made the announcement after meeting with family members of Sterling.
Veda Washington-Abusaleh, Sterling's aunt, was in tears after meeting with Landry.
"They said they didn't find anything," she said. "They said it was justifiable, what happened to Alton was justifiable."
Officer Blane Salamoni shot and killed Sterling during a struggle outside a convenience store where the 37-year-old black man was selling homemade CDs. Officer Howie Lake II helped wrestle Sterling to the ground, but Lake didn't fire his gun.
The shooting came amid increased scrutiny of fatal encounters between police and black men. Two cellphone videos of the shooting quickly spread on social media, leading to protests during which nearly 200 people were arrested. The officers' body cameras and a store surveillance camera also recorded the encounter, but those videos have not been released.
Federal authorities opened a civil rights investigation immediately after the shooting and released their findings in May 2017. They said Salamoni yelled that Sterling was reaching for a gun in his pocket before shooting him three times, and then fired three more shots into Sterling's back when he began to sit up and move.
The officers recovered a loaded revolver from Sterling's pocket. As a convicted felon, Sterling could not legally carry a gun. Sterling had pleaded guilty in 2011 to being a felon in possession of a firearm and illegally carrying a weapon and was arrested in May 2009 after an officer confronted him outside another store where he was selling CDs, court records show.
Federal authorities concluded there wasn't enough evidence to prove Salamoni or Lake willfully deprived Sterling of his civil rights, or that the officers' use of force was objectively unreasonable.
The officers encountered Sterling after responding to a report of a man with a gun outside the Triple S Food Mart. The officers told Sterling to put his hands on the hood of a car and struggled with him when he didn't comply, the Justice Department said. Lake shocked Sterling with a stun gun before the officers wrestled him to the ground, according to federal investigators.
Attorneys for Sterling's relatives have said federal authorities told them that Salamoni pointed a gun at Sterling's head and threatened to kill him before the struggle began. In a summary of its findings, the Justice Department said Salamoni pointed his gun at Sterling's head but didn't mention any verbal threats by the officer.
Salamoni and Lake have remained on paid administrative leave since the July 5, 2016, shooting.
Racial tensions were still simmering in Louisiana's capital when Gavin Long, a 29-year-old black military veteran from Kansas City, Missouri, ambushed police officers near a car wash on July 17, 2016. Long killed three Baton Rouge law enforcement officers and wounded three others before being shot dead.
East Baton Rouge District Attorney Hillar Moore recused himself from any state criminal investigation into Sterling's death, citing his professional relationship with Salamoni's parents, who have served as police officers in Baton Rouge. Moore's recusal left Landry's office to review evidence and decide whether any state charges were warranted.
In June 2017, lawyers for Sterling's five children filed a wrongful death lawsuit against the city of Baton Rouge, its police department and former police chief, and the two officers involved. Their suit alleges the shooting fit a pattern of racist behavior and excessive force by the Baton Rouge police. It also claims poor training and inadequate police procedures led to Sterling's death.
The mass arrests of protesters after Sterling's death spawned lawsuits that accused police of using excessive force and advancing against peaceful protesters while wearing military gear and gas masks and brandishing assault weapons. In October, a federal judge approved a class-action settlement that awards up to $1,000 in cash to dozens of protesters who claim police violated their civil rights.
Police prepared for another round of protests before the Justice Department announced its decision last year, but the response was far more subdued. After learning neither officer would be charged with federal crimes, dozens of people held a peaceful vigil outside the convenience store where Sterling was shot.
A 20-year-old Morgan City woman was caught with drugs after Morgan City police responded to a complaint on Robin Street, Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.
—Kayla M. Francise, 20, of Egle Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:16 p.m. Monday on charges of possession of alprazolam, possession of marijuana and violation of uniform controlled dangerous substance law-drug-free zone.
Patrol officers responded to the area of Robin Street in regard to a complaint. Officers arrived, and Francise was identified.
Francise was in possession of suspected alprazolam and marijuana, Blair said. The incident took place in a drug-free zone. Francise was jailed.
Blair reported that officers responded to 41 calls and reported the following arrests:
—Krystal L. Meranta, 28, of Clark Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 8 a.m. Monday on a warrant charging her with failure to appear to pay a fine.
Meranta was located and arrested at the police department on a city court warrant. Meranta was jailed.
—Damon M. Allen, 47, of Cross Road 2 in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 8:08 a.m. Monday on charges of driving under suspension and inspection required.
Patrol officers observed a vehicle being operated in the area of Marguerite Street with an expired inspection sticker. A stop was initiated, and Allen, the driver, had a suspended driver’s license, Blair said. Allen was jailed.
—Nico Q. Skipper, 28, of Dora Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:54 p.m. Monday on a warrant charging him with six counts of failure to appear to pay a fine.
Skipper was located and arrested at the Patterson Police Department on a Morgan City court warrant. Skipper was jailed.
—Phi Duval, 33, of Belanger Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 2:23 a.m. Tuesday on a charge of disturbing the peace.
Patrol officers responded to the area of La. 70 in regard to a disturbance. Officers arrived, and Duval was identified. Duval began to cause a disturbance in the presence of the officers, Blair said. Duval was jailed.
St. Mary Parish Sheriff Scott Anslum reported that deputies responded to 44 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:
—Vadim Zakharov, 25, of Vadim Lane in Duson, was arrested at 12:09 a.m. Tuesday on charges of operating a vehicle with a suspended driver’s license, driving left of center, and no insurance.
A deputy responded to a call for service regarding a reckless driver on U.S. 90. The deputy located the suspect vehicle in Bayou Vista, observed the driver repeatedly swerving over the centerline, and conducted a traffic stop.
The deputy identified the driver as Zakharov and found that he had a suspended license and no insurance on the vehicle, Anslum said. Zakharov was released on a summons to appear in court May 30.
—Ronald Armond Jr., 24, of Murial Street in Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested at 2:05 a.m. Tuesday on charges of possession of marijuana and methamphetamine.
Deputies assisting Berwick police located Armond on Canal Road. While speaking with Armond, a deputy smelled the odor of marijuana on him, Anslum said. Deputies located a bag of marijuana and a bag of methamphetamine where Armond was seated, Anslum said. Deputies also found evidence that the illegal drugs belonged to Armond . Armond was jailed with no bail set.
Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrest:
—Zuanita Evans, 25, of St. Mary Street in Patterson, was arrested at 1:52 a.m. Tuesday on charges of speeding 40 mph in a 25 mph zone and DWI first offense. Evans posted $2,750 bail.
Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported the following arrests:
—Constance Haughton, 28, of La. 182 in Berwick, was arrested at 10:15 p.m. Monday on a warrant charging her with domestic abuse battery. Haughton posted $2,500 bail.
—Steven Christopher, 30, of La. 182 in Berwick, was arrested at 10:15 p.m. Monday on a warrant charging him with domestic abuse battery. Christopher posted $2,500 bail.
—Johnnie Thomas, 51, of Utah Street in Berwick, was arrested at 9:16 p.m. Monday on a charge of disturbing the peace intoxicated. Thomas posted $176 bail.
—Myles Morgan, 30, of Front Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 3:34 a.m. Tuesday on a warrant charging him with violation of protective order. Bail was set at $2,500.
Scholarship Committee Chair Vera Judycki offers Matison LeBlanc of Morgan City High School Beta Club financial assistance from Artists Guild Unlimited for LeBlanc to compete in the Beta Club National Convention art competition in Savannah, Georgia. LeBlanc won first place in an art competition at Louisiana Beta Club State Convention giving her the opportunity to compete nationally.
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