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A 26-year-old Morgan City man was booked Sunday on his third DWI charge after police saw a vehicle being driven erratically on Brashear Avenue, Morgan City Police Chief James Blair said in a news release.

—Marvin Gonzales-Garcia, 26, of Louisa Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 10:41 p.m. Sunday on charges of DWI third offense, careless operation of a motor vehicle and no driver’s license.

Patrol officers observed a vehicle being operated in the area of Brashear Avenue in an erratic manner. A stop was initiated, and Gonzales-Garcia was identified as the operator of the vehicle, Blair said.

Gonzales-Garcia was in an intoxicated state and performed poorly on a field sobriety test. Gonzales-Garcia also didn’t have a valid driver’s license, Blair said.

Gonzales-Garcia registered 0.132 grams-percent blood alcohol content on a chemical test. During a history check, police discovered that Garcia had been charged with DWI offenses on two separate occasions, Blair said. Gonzales-Garcia was jailed.

Blair reported responding to 102 calls and reported the following arrests:

—Taylor Murphy, 22, of Green Leaf Boulevard in Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested at 10:27 p.m. Friday on charges of driving under suspension and child restraint required.

Investigators were at a business in the area of La. 182 conducting an investigation when they observed a vehicle enter the property of the business with a small toddler sitting on the lap of a passenger.

A stop was initiated, and Murphy had a suspended driver’s license, Blair said. Murphy was jailed.

—Johnny Giroir, 24, of Stacy Street in Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested at 6:25 p.m. Friday on charges of unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling and simple battery.

Patrol officers responded to a residence in the area of St. Claire Street in regard to a disturbance. Officers arrived and Giroir was identified as one of the people involved.

Giroir allegedly entered the home of the victim and committed a battery on the person, Blair said. Giroir was located in the area a short time later, and police found evidence linking him to the crime. Giroir was jailed.

—Gary L. Davis, 32, of La. 182 in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:15 p.m. Friday on a warrant charging him with probation violation. Davis was located and arrested at the police department on a city court warrant. Davis was jailed.

—Charleston J. Grogan, 22, of Wren Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:15 p.m. Friday on warrants charging him with contempt of court and two counts of failure to appear to pay fine.

Grogan was located and arrested at the police department on city court warrants. Grogan was jailed.

—Sean L. Finister, 29, of Mars Street in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 9:04 p.m. Friday on charges of DWI first offense, possession of an open alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle and careless operation of a motor vehicle.

Patrol officers responded to the area of La. 182 in regard to a crash. Officers arrived, and Finister was found to be the driver of one of the vehicles involved.

Finister was in an intoxicated state and performed poorly on a field sobriety test, Blair said. Police evidence was located placing Finister at fault in the crash, Blair said. Finister failed to provide a proper sample for a chemical test. Finister was jailed.

—Kyle Q. Rhett, 26, of General MacArthur Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:37 a.m. Saturday on a warrant charging him with seven counts of failure to appear to pay a fine. Rhett was located and arrested in the area of Wren Street on city court warrant. Rhett was jailed.

—Jerry Anslum, 49, of Second Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 4:26 p.m. Saturday on a charge of disturbing the peace intoxicated.

Patrol officers responded to a business in the area of Railroad Avenue in regard to a disturbance. Officers arrived, and Anslum was identified as the person involved. Anslum was found to be in an intoxicated state, Blair said. Anslum was jailed.

—Tyler A. Palmature, 20, of Clements Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 9 p.m. Saturday on charges of driving under suspension and improper lighting.

Patrol officers observed a vehicle being operated in the area of Federal Avenue with only one operable head light. A stop was initiated, and Palmature, the driver, had a suspended driver’s license, Blair said. Palmature was jailed.

—Sergio Cerritos-Calderon, 25, of Chirpy’s Lane in Amelia, was arrested at 9:59 a.m. Saturday on charges of driving under suspension and disregard of traffic controls.

Patrol officers observed a vehicle being operated in the area of La. 182 fail to stop at a red light. A stop was initiated, and Cerritos-Calderon, the driver, had a suspended driver’s license, Blair said. He was jailed.

—John A. Henry, 38, of Vivian Street in Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested at 12:14 a.m. Saturday on charges of driving under suspension and improper lighting.

Patrol officers observed a vehicle being operated in the area of Wise Street without proper lighting required. A stop was initiated, and Henry, the driver, had a suspended driver’s license, Blair said. Henry was jailed.

—Alfredo Ortiz, 25, of Boston Drive in New Orleans, was arrested at 1:14 a.m. Sunday on charges of disturbing the peace intoxicated, resisting an officer and theft less than $1,000.

An officer working a security detail at a business in the area of La. 182 saw a person flee the business with items, failing to pay for them. The officer pursued the person, Ortiz, who was intoxicated, and apprehended him, Blair said. Ortiz was jailed.

—Alexis J. Melendez-Davilia, 30, of Robin Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:17 p.m. Sunday on charges of domestic abuse battery, domestic abuse battery-child endangerment law and disturbing the peace intoxicated.

Patrol officers responded to the area of Robin Street in regard to a disturbance. Officers arrived, and Melendez-Davilia was identified as one of the people involved.

Melendez-Davilia allegedly committed batteries on the victims during an argument, Blair said. The incident took place in the presence of a juvenile. Melendez-Davilia was found to be in an intoxicated state. She was jailed.

—Clifton Martin, 54, of South Everett Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:01 p.m. Sunday on charges of DWI first offense, possession of an open alcoholic beverage in a motor vehicle and domestic battery abuse.

Patrol officers responded to the area of Front Street in regard to a disturbance. Officers arrived, and Martin was identified as one of the people involved.

Martin allegedly committed a battery on the victim during the argument, Blair said. Martin fled the scene prior to officers’ arrival. A short time later, officers responded back to the home due to Martin returning. Police arrived and located Martin.

Martin was in an intoxicated state and allegedly admitted to driving his vehicle prior to officers’ arrival. The vehicle had several open containers of alcoholic beverages, Blair said.

Martin performed poorly on a field sobriety test and registered 0.259 grams-percent blood alcohol content on a chemical test. Martin was jailed.

—David A. Turner, 26, of Monarch Street in Houma, was arrested at 10:03 p.m. Sunday on a charge of obstructing public passages.

Patrol officers responded to the area of Brashear Avenue in regard to a person creating traffic hazards with motorists in the area. Officers arrived and identified Turner as the person involved, Blair said.

This was the fifth time officers had dealings with Turner on other incidents in a 24-hour period. Turner was seen in the middle of the roadway blocking traffic, Blair said. Turner was jailed.

St. Mary Parish Sheriff Mark Hebert reported responding to 123 complaints in the parish and reported the following arrests in east St. Mary Parish:

—Asia Do, 22, of Pearl Lane in Franklin, was arrested at 2:19 p.m. Friday on charges of aggravated battery, child desertion and on warrants charging her with possession of legend drug without prescription, speeding, and failure to honor written promise to appear.

A deputy patrolling the Verdunville area responded to a home on North Prairie Road for a disturbance. The deputy learned that there was an altercation at the home, and that Do intervened and tased the victim, Hebert said.

The deputy made contact with Do at her home and learned that she had left a juvenile child inside alone, Hebert said. Do was jailed with no bail set.

—Lorelyn Gotcher, 31, of Terrebonne Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 5:18 p.m. Friday on a charge of theft.

A deputy patrolling Bayou Vista responded to a business in reference to a shoplifting complaint. The deputy learned that Gotcher attempted to remove several items from the store. Gotcher was released on a summons to appear in court Feb. 7, 2018.

—Kimber Thompson, 30, of Pacific Street in Berwick, was arrested at 11:01 p.m. Friday on charges of no tail lights and driving with a suspended license.

A deputy in the Berwick area conducted a traffic stop with a vehicle traveling with no tail lights. During the stop, contact was made with the driver, Thompson, and the deputy learned that she was operating the vehicle with a suspended license, Hebert said. Thompson was released on a summons to appear in court Feb. 7, 2018.

—Kalab Wood, 23, of Bowman Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:31 a.m. Saturday on possession of cocaine, possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A deputy patrolling Bayou Vista responded to a call for service for a suspicious vehicle parked at a business. The deputy spoke with all occupants in the vehicle and obtained consent to search the vehicle.

The deputy located a bag belonging to Wood that contained a glass pipe and illegal narcotics, Hebert said. Wood was jailed with no bail set.

—Alton St. Julien, 42, of Mixon Street in New Iberia, was arrested at 4:55 a.m. Sunday on charges of speeding, open container, driving under suspension and on a warrant charging him with speeding and driving under suspension.

A deputy performing stationary traffic duties observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. The deputy conducted a traffic stop near Southeast Boulevard and spoke with the driver, identified as St. Julien.

While speaking with St. Julien, the deputy observed a beer bottle in the door’s cup holder, and also found that St. Julien was operating the vehicle with a suspended license, Hebert said. St. Julien was booked into jail and released on $3,500 bail.

Patterson Police Chief Patrick LaSalle reported the following arrests:

—Parrish Michael Hebert, 23, of Harding Drive in Houma, was arrested at 11 p.m. Sunday on charges of DWI and reckless operation. Hebert posted $3,000 bail.

—Therold James, 33, of Teche Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 1:56 p.m. Sunday on a charge of simple criminal damage to property. James was released on $500 recognizance bail.

Berwick Police Chief James Richard reported no arrests.

June 17, 1971- November 4, 2017
Stacy Elizabeth Giroir, born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, and a longtime resident of Berwick, was called to her heavenly home on Saturday, Nov. 4, 2017, at the age of 46.
Those left to cherish Stacy’s memory are her loving husband, Roy J. Giroir; her beloved children, Courtney L. Aucoin, Hunter J. Aucoin and Bre Anna E. Giroir; her father, Whitney F. Pierron and his wife, Jane; and her mother, Elizabeth J. Whitney and her husband, Leroy.
She joined in heaven, Courtney and Hunter’s father, Mark Aucoin; her stepfather, Dale C. Tompkins; and her stepmother, Mary Ann Pierron.
The family requests that memorial visitation be observed Wednesday, Nov. 8, 2017, from 9 a.m. until time of memorial services at 11 a.m. at the Lighthouse Community Church of Berwick. Dismissal will follow the service.

BHS MUSICAL
Berwick High Drama Club presents “Elf The Musical” at 7 p.m. Nov. 11 and 2 p.m. Nov. 12, at Berwick Junior High. For tickets, $8, or info call BHS, 985-384-8450.

One thing about K9 officers that has been known to befuddle the layman’s apprehension of the nature of the police dog’s utility, is their accountability.
By which I mean: Is one to consider them a weapon, a tool, or an officer of the law, deserving of the same respect as their human counterparts? The answer is “yes” to all of those.
K9 Officer Dozer has been with the Chitimacha Police Department since June and has prompted close to 30 narcotics arrests in that time.
He is a three-year old pit bull—bown-gray, lean, and as friendly as any dog a person could hope to meet. He is not overly affectionate—i.e., he does not dive into laps or slather you with licking. No, Dozer is well behaved, attentive, and relaxed. His tail tells the tale; and from its wagging, it is a tale of contentment.
When asked to describe Dozer’s personality as he knows it, Chitimacha Police Chief Hal Hutchinson pointed to Dozer, lounging in the middle of the office floor, and said, “That’s it, right there.”
Dozer is currently the only pit bull K9 in Louisiana law enforcement, a statistic that the CPD takes pride in.
He was obtained through an animal rescue program at Universal K9 in San Antonio, sponsored through Animal Farm Foundation, whose self-defined mission is: “to secure equal treatment and opportunity for ‘pit bull’ dogs.”
The sponsorship includes the adoption of the rescued pit bull, training of the pit bull and training of the handler. All of which, takes place free of charge.
Dozer, originally from an Austin, Texas shelter, was assigned by Universal K9, to his handler, Officer Nick Picard, when Picard went to San Antonio to pick up his new partner.
“We were looking for just a narcotics dog, and pit bulls are just narcotics dogs,” said Picard, “They’re only trained on narcotics. So, they matched Dozer with me because Dozer was trained in narcotics, and that’s what I was going for.
“They handed the dog over to me and it was like ‘alright, let’s go,’ and we just started working.
“The main thing about it is getting the dog to trust you. So, throughout the whole course, he stayed with me in my hotel room and I did everything with him. He was always with me. That was to build his trust in me.
“The way pit bulls work, is they want to please their owners. So, there was a lot of time spent with him.”
The very thing that makes pit bulls so loyal is also the thing that assures that Picard will be the only handler with whom Dozer will ever work. Though, most K9/handler partnerships operate that way anyway, the uncanny loyalty of a pit bull ensures that they will not be able to form the necessary bond of trust imperative for such a partnership, with any other handler than their first.
Hutchinson explained the impetus for adopting Dozer. “We were looking for a K9, so we wouldn’t have to call anyone else up to help us work our narcotics cases,” Hutchinson said. “We weren’t specifically looking for a pit bull. We were just looking for a K9.
“Nick (Picard) actually found the grant process for rescued animals, and if you get a rescue, and you get a pit bull, they’re free.
“There were not that many (K9s) around, and if there was one around, they were busy or they were coming off of a long shift. So, we’d be unable to get one. But, to have one here is convenient.”
However, Dozer works with Picard, so when Picard’s shift is over, so is Dozer’s. But, Picard can be called in with Dozer if necessary, and Dozer is always on duty.
Picard tells a story of taking Dozer to a relaxing day at the Lighthouse Festival, in Berwick. He says he and Dozer were strolling around and looking at the hot rods on display, when suddenly, Dozer alerted on one of the cars. Though Picard and his partner were off-duty at the time, Picard placed a call to the Berwick Police Department who came to the site and located hidden narcotics in the hot rod.
Although an asset, Dozer is also a friend to Picard. Picard said that sometimes, despite his inclinations, he has to keep from showing playful affection to Dozer because it may interfere with the protocols of Dozer’s training. When not on duty, Dozer likes to play fetch, and though he loves to work, in his off time, he also loves to run and play.
Since certifying with Universal K9, Picard and Dozer have been working with Louisiana K-9, out of Maurice, to certify in searching for synthetic marijuana. This makes the CPD K-9 unit the only unit statewide, certified in synthetic marijuana.
When asked what made him want to become a K9 handler, Picard said that after 17 years in law enforcement, he had done everything except K9 handler. So, when his chief saw the opportunity and presented it to Picard, he took to it the same way Dozer has taken to him, gladly.
Picard has recently been training through Louisiana K-9, and certifying in tracking (missing, fleeing, or hidden perpetrators) and article search (discarded or hidden contraband), which is executed through commands and working techniques, with Dozer.
“He’s miraculous. You know, that’s it,” said Picard. “I just have to show them what Dozer can do, and it just blows them out of the water.”
In a demonstration of Dozer’s ability and technique, Hutchinson took a glass jar containing narcotics from a lockbox, and disappeared into the station kitchen.
He removed the lid of the jar by the refrigerator, extracted the narcotics from the jar, and hid the narcotics in one of the lower cupboards in the kitchen.
Once the narcotics were safely hidden, Hutchinson called for Dozer and Picard to start the demonstration.
The two entered the kitchen and began working the room; Picard snapping his fingers and proclaiming commands, and Dozer, tail wagging, searching feverishly with his nose.
As dozer approached the cabinet where the narcotics had been placed, he paused at the refrigerator and began to turn in circles. Without alerting, and after several turns around, Dozer moved away from the refrigerator and came to the drug-harboring cabinet, where he sat, pointed, and held perfectly still.
After the demonstration, Hutchinson explained to Picard that he had taken the lid off of the narcotics jar at the refrigerator, and had set the lid on the counter, nearby. This was the reason for Dozer’s detour during the demonstration.
Dozer received his reward: a small, gray, pock-marked length of PVC pipe, which he chewed zealously, all the while, his tail wagging.