CRIME BLOTTER: Reported Offenses in the Tri-parishes

Police arrival ends torment of women

Upon arriving at the scene to investigate a possible burglary in progress, Houma Police heard screaming female voices coming from the Liberty Street home. They surrounded the house and were later able to apprehend two male suspects who tried to flee.

Kaheem Diggs, 22, of 1117 Acadian Drive, and Herbert Watkins, 23, of 605 Liberty St., were arrested. Watkins was charged with two counts of domestic abuse by strangulation, two counts of false imprisonment, aggravated assault by firearm, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and resisting an officer. Diggs was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.

The two men allegedly entered the residence at Watkins’ listed address, where two females were inside. Watkins and Diggs became embroiled in a verbal altercation, which led to the brandishing of firearms by the men and Watkins to begin choking one of the females, referred to as his girlfriend by Houma Police spokesman Lt. Dana Coleman.

Watkins and Diggs tried to flea upon learning that police were outside the home. Diggs was apprehended immediately, and Watkins made it to a shed on Wood Street, where he was found hiding.

Bar fight puts one on life support, another in HPD custody

An alleged bar fight early Friday morning resulted in severe head trauma for one male and, subsequently, a second-degree battery charge for a 26-year-old Houma man.

Houma Police responded to the Cajun Country Lounge just after 1 a.m. on Friday morning, where they learned that several people had been involved in a fight, HPD spokesman Lt. Dana Coleman said. Any potential witnesses refused to speak to police at that time, he said.

Respondents noticed that one man had substantial injuries, but he refused medical treatment, Coleman said. The man, in his 30s, was later taken to a nearby hospital and placed on life support to counter severe head trauma.

After further investigation, Wayne Adams, of 168 Lorraine Court, was arrested. HPD believes that he “beat the victim up as a result of a previous fight the victim had with Mr. Adams’ brother,” Coleman said.

Houma woman crashes into Main Street restaurant

A Houma woman was charged with driving while intoxicated and reckless operation of a vehicle after she crashed into a utility pole and the Subway restaurant on Main Street Oct. 8.

Police responded to the scene just before 4 a.m. and found Ashley Stamant, 30. Stamant was administered a chemical test for intoxication, which revealed her blood alcohol concentration to be 0.23g percent, nearly three times the legal limit.

Seeking a nap, Houma woman arrested for trespassing

A Houma woman was arrested on multiple charges after she allegedly went home-to-home knocking on doors asking for a place to sleep while intoxicated, entering one home without permission.

Cordella Lacobon, 37, was charged with unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling and disturbing the peace by intoxication.

Houma Police were called to a residence along Old Court in east Houma as Lacobon allegedly refused to leave the home she entered. Lacobon told residents she wanted to sleep, Houma Police Chief Todd Duplantis said.

When officers arrived, Lacobon was “stumbling uncontrollably and sweating profusely,” Duplantis said. Neighbors of the residence where she was found said she knocked on their doors seeking entry and left a half-full beer can on one porch.

Cut Off man charged with aggravated burglary

A Cut Off man allegedly confessed to beating a man in a motel and taking more than $1,000 in cash from the victim.

Ronnie Allen, 22, of 247 W. 15th St., allegedly kicked down the door of the Larose motel room where the victim was allegedly sleeping. Allen restrained the victim, demanded money and later struck the victim in the face with an object before taking the cash, Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman Deputy Brennan Matherne said.

Deputies were able to get a description of the suspect. They located Allen near West 14th Street in Larose, and arrested him on a contempt of court warrant. Deputies found Allen was holding more than $1,000 in cash, and upon questioning, he confessed in full to the crime, Matherne said.

Allen was additionally charged with aggravated burglary and booked in lieu of a $102,500 bond. A Department of Probation and Parole hold prevents his release.

Morgan City Police announce several arrests

The Morgan City Police Department announced on Monday several weekend arrests:

• Jayme L. Ryan, 52, of Headland Street, Morgan City, was charged with operating a vehicle while intoxicated at 2:30 p.m., Oct. 11.

• Oliver Collins Jr., 54, of Federal Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested on failure to appear and pay probation fees on Friday. Officers came into contact with Collins while on patrol and learned of the outstanding warrants, according to the MCPD report.

• Michael Ortis, 33, of Cedar Street, Morgan City, was arrested on a contempt of court warrant on Friday. Ortis turned himself in to serve time as required by city court, and police learned he was wanted per an outstanding warrant.

• Joshua Pojar, 31, of Federal Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested on two warrants for failure to appear. Officers came into contact with Pojar while conducting a traffic stop. Pojar was wanted by the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Houma Police Department.

• Carol Bowie, 51, of Dinkins Street, Jeanerette, was arrested on a failure to appear warrant on Saturday.

• Marcus Velazquez, 40, of Terrebonne Street, Morgan City, was charged with careless operation, driving under suspension, and operating a motor vehicle with no insurance. Velazquez’s attempt to turn left into a convenience store parking lot allegedly forced a patrolling officer to take evasive action. A traffic stop revealed that he was driving with a suspended license and without auto insurance, according to the report.

• Cary Breaux, 39, of Union Street, Morgan City, was charged with improper lane usage, switched license plate, resisting an officer by flight, driving under suspension, no registration, no inspection sticker, careless operation, possession of cocaine and possession of a Schedule IV drug.

Witnesses reportedly informed officers of a possible impaired driver at about 9:30 p.m., Saturday, near Brashear Avenue and Seventh Street. Officers discovered a white suburban stopped in the middle of the road and attempted a traffic stop. The vehicle attempted to leave, striking a curb but continuing to flee until reaching Railroad Avenue. Breaux was removed from the vehicle, which was found to have suspected cocaine and several suspected Alprazolam pills, according to the report. Bond was not set as of Monday.

• Rand Metrejean, 48, of Sede Park, Amelia, was charged with violating probation upon arrest for an outstanding warrant on Sunday afternoon.

Houma man arrested for sexual battery

Thibodaux Police witnessed a 26-year-old man committing sexual battery this weekend.

The Houma native accused of the crimes is behind bars on a $10,000 bond.

Authorities said that Tyler Gilbert, of 1803 Martin Luther King Boulevard Apt. No. 1125, was arrested at around 1:27 a.m. on Oct. 13.

TPD authorities said that they were at the corner of West Third and Philip streets when they witnessed Gilbert sticking his hand up a woman’s skirt and grabbing her private area.

After witnessing the incident, authorities nabbed Gilbert and took him to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center on a charge of sexual battery – forcible fondling.

If convicted, Gilbert faces up to 10 years in prison.

Police use DNA to solve September armed robbery

DNA evidence has forced a man in a Lafayette Parish jail to confess to his alleged role in a September armed robbery in Lockport.

Lockport Police Chief Warren Vedros said that Jessie Gonzales, 26, of 508 Main St., Lockport, admitted his role in robbing three women at knifepoint at a Lockport hair salon last month.

Gonzales is currently in a jail in Lafayette Parish for a DWI charge. Authorities were able to name him as a suspect after they say that DNA evidence pinned Gonzales to the crime.

Just after 6 p.m. on Sept. 12, officers were called to the salon in reference to criminal activity.

Once on the scene, officers were alerted that two employees and a customer were robbed at knifepoint by a male who then fled out of the rear door of the business. Officers later found the knife believed to be used in the crime. They also located the suspect’s sweatshirt, which had been discarded nearby.

Through surveillance footage, authorities were able to see the suspect walking behind the business immediately after the robbery occurred.

With the weapon and sweatshirt in hand, police were able to find DNA on the items that they said belong to Gonzales.

Once they took the evidence to Gonzales in the Lafayette Parish Jail, authorities said he confessed to the crime.

Gonzales is charged with three counts of armed robbery with a dangerous weapon. He will serve the remainder of his time in the Lafayette Jail before being transferred to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center.

Suspect arrested on incest charge

A 31-year-old Houma man is in custody of the Morgan City Police Department after authorities learned of the suspect’s alleged sexual contact with an 8-year-old female.

The MCPD learned on Oct. 10 that a child was possibly molested in Morgan City throughout the past several weeks.

Through a joint operation with the Houma Police, the two entities learned that the complainant alleged that the man had sexual contact with the young child on several occasions – one of the occasions in Morgan City.

To protect the identity of the child, the Tri-Parish Times is withholding the man’s name.

MCPD detectives questioned the man and took him into custody for a charge of aggravated incest.

Authorities said the investigation is ongoing.