Crime Roundup

Five arrested after trying to steal over $800 worth of Wal-Mart goods

Five people n three adults and two juveniles n were arrested for felony shoplifting at the Wal-Mart on Grand Caillou Road Saturday night, according to Houma Police.

The five were spotted removing clothing items from hangers and putting them into Wal-Mart bags in the store around 11:20 p.m., police said. When they attempted to leave, a Houma Police officer working a security detail at the store waited outside of the grocery doors.

A 16-year-old female in the group spotted and officer and started to run but slipped and fell on her back, police said.

Police arrested Marcus Stadium, 18; Summer Billot, 21; Angela Barrow, 39; and a 18-year-old juvenile. All of the suspects were from Houma, according to police.

The five tried to shoplift a total of 95 items totaling over $800, police said. They were charged with felony theft of goods.

The two juveniles were transported to the Houma Police Department where they were booked and released into the custody of their guardians per custodial promises, police said.

Stadium, Billot and Barrow were transported to the Terrebonne Parish Jail where they were booked for two counts of felony theft of goods and contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile.

Speeding motorist arrested with marijuana

After clocking a car traveling nearly twice the posted speed limit early Sunday, Houma Police stopped the driver only to discover he had outstanding warrants for drug possession, contempt of court and resisting arrest.

Officers running a stationary radar at the intersection of Rosary and Main streets in East Houma clocked Ryan Scott, 18, of 200 Smith Lane, Houma, driving 48 mph in a 25 mph zone. They stopped his 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix at Howard and Min streets.

Scott initially told police his name was Brent Maguire. However, one of the officers recognized Scott from previously dealings with the Houma man.

Inside Scott’s car, police said they found a hand-rolled cigar filled with marijuana. The driver also admitted to not having a license.

Police were initially going to issue Scott a summons for possession of marijuana and speeding. When they asked him to spell his name, he reportedly told officers he did not know how to spell it because he was “special ed,” according to police.

A 15-year-old passenger in the car was charged with curfew violation and transported to the Houma Police Department where he was booked and released to his mother.

When officers learned Scott had outstanding warrants, he was taken into custody, police said. As they searched Scott, police found a small baggy of suspected marijuana in his shoe. The baggy of marijuana and hand-rolled cigar were seized for evidence.

Scott was charged on warrants through the city court for contempt of court, as well as possession of marijuana, contributing to the delinquency of a juvenile, speeding, possession of narcotics in the presence of a juvenile and resisting an officer (giving false information). He was transported to the Terrebonne Parish Jail.

Lake Charles man charged with stealing car, possession of crack

An alert Houma Police officer stopped a vehicle he recalled had been stolen in March, only to discover the driver had crack cocaine.

Officer Jeff Lirette stopped a white Buick Century on North Van Avenue and Gibb Street early Monday, according to a release. The car had been reported stolen from Allen Street on March 21.

The driver, Phillip Joseph, 24, of 2437 Anita Drive, Lake Charles, had a white rock-like substance believed to be crack cocaine inside the car. It was seized for evidence.

The car was returned to its owner, police said.

Joseph was charged with possession of a stolen vehicle over $500; possession with intent to distribute cocaine; and operating a vehicle with no driver’s license.

Police said the crack cocaine weighed approximately 6.2 grams, and carried a street value of over $600.

Houma man charged with simple robbery, outstanding warrant

Houma Police responded to a simple robbery at a convenience store in the 8000 block of Park Avenue early Thursday.

A 50-year-old man told police that as he was walking to the store, he pulled some money from his front right pants pocket when a man ran up and grabbed it out of his pocket and ran away, according to a release.

The man told officers the suspect was wearing a long, blue T-shirt and blue jeans with white shoes.

Based on the man’s description, officers stopped Kevin Young, 22, of 1302 Bond St., about 40 minutes later near the convenience store. Officers learned Young had an outstanding warrant for possession of cocaine.

He was charged with simple robbery and the warrant, and was transported to the Terrebonne Parish Jail.

Traffic stop escalates into tussle with police; drug, battery charges filed

What began as a traffic stop for a missing inspection sticker escalated into a drug and battery of a Houma police officer arrest Thursday morning.

During criminal patrols, Officer John Hebert spotted a tan 1992 Ford Crown Victoria without an inspection sticker traveling south on Roselawn Street in East Houma, according to police reports. Hebert stopped the car, which was driven by Curtis Ross, 24, of 122 Ackleen St., in a residence driveway.

Ross had suspected crack cocaine in his possession, the report said. The .8 grams carries a street value of $800. Police said Ross also had $500 in cash. The drugs and money were seized for evidence.

In an attempt to get away, Ross elbowed the officer on the right side of the face, according to police. Hebert and backup Officer Darryl Cunningham Jr. struggled with Ross for several minutes before finally subduing him.

During the incident, Hebert’s radio holder was ripped off and Cunningham’s shirt was torn, the report said. No one was injured in the incident.

Ross was arrested for operating a vehicle with no MVI sticker, possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, two counts of resisting by violence, two counts of battery on a police officer and two counts of criminal damage. He was transported to Terrebonne Parish Jail.

A local wrecker service company towed the vehicle from the scene.

If convicted of the battery of a police officer charge, Ross could face up to six months in jail without the benefit of a sentence suspension and a $500 fine.

Police searching for purse snatcher

Houma Police are searching for a man who pushed a woman to the ground and stole her purse as she retrieved her registration papers from her car after he hit her vehicle from behind.

The incident occurred Wednesday at 11:15 a.m. in the 400 block of Seventh Street, according to police.

The 36-year-old woman told police she was driving east on Eighth Street in Houma when she stopped at a traffic sign at Central Avenue. While she was stopped, a white vehicle traveling behind her pushed lightly on the rear bumper of her car, police reported.

The woman said as she reached for her registration papers, she noticed a Hispanic man standing over her. He pushed her to the ground, took her purse, got into his vehicle and drove away. The woman told officers the purse contained less than $25.

The woman described the vehicle as an older model, white, four-door sedan. Two Hispanic men in their early 30s were inside the car, according to police.

Officers patrolled the area, but didn’t find the car. Anyone with information is asked to call Houma Police at (985) 873-6371.

LPSO arrests several on drug charges

Agents with the Lafourche Parish Drug Task Force nabbed four South Lafourche people on drug charges over a two-day period.

Wednesday evening, the officers spotted a vehicle cross and ride the centerline of Hwy. 24, west of Larose, for a considerable distance, said Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman Larry Wiedel. They stopped the vehicle, driven by Carl Raven Adams, 31, of 128 B&R Lane, Golden Meadow, near Campbell Wells.

Adams had active warrants for his arrest and was unable to produce a valid driver’s license, Weidel said.

With Adams’ permission, agents searched his vehicle. A female passenger told agents that Adams had given her a pill n which she did not take n when he picked her up. The drug was identified as Elavil, a prescription medication for anti-depression (Legend drug), the spokesman said.

While the deputies were searching the vehicle, Adams’ cell phone rang. A member of the Task Force answered the call; the caller wanted to buy $100 worth of crack cocaine.

Adams was arrested on driving left of center, no driver’s license and distribution of a Legend drug charges, as well as the two outstanding warrants for contempt of court, Weidel said. He was booked at the South Lafourche Sub-station and later transported to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux.

While still patrolling South Lafourche, the agents spotted a second vehicle, a silver Tahoe, cross the centerline on Hwy. 308, Weidel said. The vehicle was known to have been used by several drug users and dope dealers, he explained.

After the vehicle crossed the centerline a second time, agents stopped the SUV.

After receiving written consent from the driver to search the vehicle, agents found a Tupperware container with crack pipe filters and a straw with cocaine residue on it, Weidel said. The passenger of the SUV, David Pigg, 51, of 18297 East Main St., Golden Meadow, also had a crack pipe in his pocket and a pill bottle with rock-like objects suspected to be crack cocaine, the spokesman said.

Pigg was charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The driver, Tessie Gaubert, 35, of 11034 Hwy. 1, Lockport, was charged with possession of cocaine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and driving left of center.

Both were transported to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux, Weidel said.

The same day, Harbor Patrol Deputy Jeff Prevost stopped a truck that was driving erratically, the spokesman said.

After patting down the driver, Ron M. Gisclair, 35, of 109 Paul St., Golden Meadow, the deputy found a prescription bottle containing several different pills in the pocket of the man’s pants. The bottle contained Aleve, hydrocodone, Soma and diazepam, Weidel said.

Gisclair was arrested for possession of controlled dangerous substances.

Inside Gisclair’s car, Prevost found a pill bottle with the label scratched off and a plastic grocery bag containing several prescription bottles, according to Weidel.

A Task Force agent and Prevost also found two bottles of diazepam, three bottles of Soma and three bottles of hydrocodone, he said.

Gisclair went to three doctors over four days to get the prescribed medication, Weidel explained.

Because the Golden Meadow man is deaf, Weidel said he was allowed to read his Miranda Rights, which he agreed he understood.

He was charged with possession of CDS-4 (Dorvaset) and prohibited acts (doctor shopping); however, he was not charged for the pills found in his pocket because he had a prescription for the pills in his vehicle, according to the spokesman. Gisclair was transported to the South Lafourche Sub-station for booking, and his car was impounded.

State District Judge Walter Lanier Jr. set bond at $2,500.

If convicted, Weidel said Gisclair could face up to 5 years in prison for each drug offense and a $5,000 fine.

Houma man arrested for snatching purse at mall

A Houma man was arrested for stealing an elderly woman’s purse as she entered Southland Mall last Wednesday morning.

The woman told police that she had her purse over her shoulder as she entered the mall when a man grabbed it, according to a release. The woman was not injured in the incident.

Several witnesses provided officers with the suspect’s description and vehicle information, police said.

Detectives arrested Trow Downer, 40, of 109 Bayou Gardens Drive, in West Houma. He admitted to stealing the woman’s purse and taking money out of it to buy drugs. Downer told police he tossed the purse in a field near the mall; detectives recovered it there.

Downer was charged with one count of purse snatching. He was jailed at the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex. Bond has been set at $150,000.

Teen arrested for manhandling Houma woman

Houma Police arrested a local teen Tuesday evening after he and an accomplice manhandled an unsuspecting 25-year-old woman who had stepped outside her home to get some fresh air.

Officers were called to the 400 block of Hobson Street in West Houma around 7:17 p.m. The woman said she was standing on the sidewalk when two males approached her, grabbed her on her private areas, and then ran away, according to a police release. One of the men, she told officers, was wearing a white T-shirt with “Hustler” written across the back.

Based on the woman’s description, officers stopped a 15-year-old juvenile on Morgan Street. The teen also had an outstanding warrant for contempt of court, police said.

The teen was arrested for simple battery and the warrant for contempt of court, and was transported to the juvenile justice complex.

Police were unable to find the other suspect. The case remains under investigation.

Chauvin man arrested for simple robbery, soliciting for prostitution

A Chauvin man was arrested for simple robbery and soliciting for prostitutes Monday, Houma Police reported.

Officers responded to a call at 342 New Orleans Blvd. in Houma, according to a release. A 24-year-old woman told police that a man approached her asking for change for a $100 bill. As she went to give him change, he reached inside the window and grabbed the money out of her hand, police said.

Officers identified the man as Todd Breaux, 37, of 5115 Bayouside Drive. He told police he went inside the business at 342 New Orleans Blvd. and asked the clerk if she could break a $100 bill for his friend. According to reports, Breaux said his female friend took the money and left in a red Chevy pickup truck.

Officers learned Breaux was actually soliciting for prostitution, according to reports. He was charged on the two counts and transferred to the Terrebonne Parish Jail.

If convicted, Houma Police spokesman Lt. Todd Duplantis said Breaux could face up to seven years in prison with or without hard labor and a $3,000 fine.

Montegut couple charged with training dogs to fight, animal cruelty

Two Montegut men were arrested last Sunday for training dogs to fight, according to a Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office spokesman.

Rolando Cuevas Jr., 24, of 122 Cypress Court, and Margaret B. Verdin, 47, of 3971 Oak Point Road, were charged after a deputy found evidence of dogs fighting on Verdin’s property, said Larry Weidel.

While investigating a report of dogs being fought, Deputy Dayshawn Green went to Verdin’s Montegut home. As he approached, several men standing near a boxed-in area where dogs were fighting ran in several directions.

Cuevas was standing near the fighting dogs, Weidel said. The Montegut man had blood spots on the color of his shirt and on his shoes. Green put Cuevas into the back of his sheriff’s office unit while he went to check on the dogs.

Wiedel said the deputy also spotted a cage in the back of a 2005 Ford truck parked across the road. Inside one cage, a very badly injured Brindle pit bulldog with cut marks on its face and paw was being held. Cuevas reportedly admitted the truck was his, but denied owning the dog.

As the deputy spoke to Cuevas, Verdin walked out of her residence to find out what was going on, Weidel said. The woman told the deputy that she had been asleep and didn’t know what had been going on. When Green asked about the seven pit bulldogs chained in her back yard, Verdin said they belonged to her son but refused to give his name, the spokesman said.

Weidel said one of the dogs appeared to have fresh injuries on its mouth and nose area, indicating it had recently been in a fight.

A concerned citizen told deputies a video camera had been placed under the back of the house, and was used to film dog fights, he noted.

Green retrieved the camera, which captured Cuevas in the middle of the boxed-in area using a break stick on a Brindle pit bull as it fought another pit bull, Weidel said.

The camera and film were logged into evidence, he said.

A Lafourche Parish Animal Control officer picked up the two injured pit bulls.

Weidel said Cuevas and Verdin were arrested and transported to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux where they were booked.

Cuevas was charged with dog fighting training and possession of dogs for fighting; seizure and disposition of animals cruelty treated; seizure and destruction or disposition of dogs and equipment used in dog fighting; and cruelty to animals, aggravated.

The maximum penalty on each charge is 10 years in prison and up to $25,000 in fines, Weidel said.Verdin was charged with dog fighting training and possession of dogs for fighting; seizure and disposition of animals cruelty treated; and seizure and destruction or disposition of dogs and equipment used in dog fighting. Weidel said the same penalties apply.

Neither Cuevas or Verdin had a criminal record, he noted.