Houma Police rout 16 drug suspects

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Houma police, backed up by other law enforcement agencies, executed felony drug warrants on 16 suspects at various Terrebonne Parish locations Friday morning.


The action, dubbed “Operation Breaking Ground,” is part of an ongoing attack on what has become an epidemic of heroin and methamphetamine traffic, which authorities say is responsible for a wave of violence since autumn of 2015, Police Chief Dana Coleman said.

The department’s new Special Operations Division, under the command of Capt. Milton Wolfe, played a major role in the gathering of intelligence leading to warrants signed by multiple judges.

The nature of the drug sale operations, Coleman said, is consistent with recent law enforcement evaluations of local drug trafficking. Once controlled by loosely-confederated gangs or posses, drug sales in Houma and surrounding communities are believed carried out by freelance entrepreneurs – some users and some not – who can be highly competitive and so increasingly violent. With the cases handled Friday, there was no evidence of a hierarchy, although authorities are still developing their information. In some cases, a small cadre of suspects may have associated with each other either socially or as boyfriend and girlfriend, but other than that, there is little evidence of inter-relation.


There is no doubt, however, that the increase of drug traffic is seen as correlative to spates of local violence, in the minds of local officials.

“I can tell you that in the four-month span from September to December, we had seven homicides and we had numerous shootings,” Coleman said.

Friday’s arrests are not believed connected to those incidents. But authorities have confirmed during the course of this year that arrests made in connection with recent street violence had already resulted in a number of arrests.


Coleman’s Special Operations Division is a task force of officers with training in multiple specialties, available on a moment’s notice in the event of an emergency. Members of the unit worked together on the recent operation as a priority.

The warrant execution, Coleman said, was part of a collaborative effort between his agency and the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter, the Louisiana State Police, Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, Terrebonne Parish District Attorney Joe Waitz Jr. and Houma City Marshal Orville Callahan.

Three suspects wanted in connection with the investigation, Keith Patterson, Travis Burns and Dwayne Bergeron Jr., were arrested on unrelated charges prior to the operation. Warrants in connection with the Friday sweep will be served on them at a later date.


Other roundups have occurred this year in different Terrebonne Parish neighborhoods and communities. Coleman is cautiously optimistic, noting that since the spike in killing has eased.

Suspects still being sought, for whom warrants are issued, were identified as Dominique James, Colin Martin, James Robinson, Ernest Brumfield, Ariana Walker, Ashley Forman, John Barrios and Joe Bass. No further information on them is currently available.

Suspects taken into custody were identified as:


Derek Pellegrin, 19, Ash Street, conspiracy to distribute methamphetamine

Michael P. Birkle, 34, American Boulevard, principle to distribution of heroin.

Cody Short, 22, Monarch Drive, two counts heroin distribution.


Rebecca St. Pierre, 31, Rome Court, heroin distribution.

Akins Gaines, 28, Glenmore Avenue, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Elliot Parker, 23, Patterson Street, methamphetamine distribution.


Michael Ledet, 33, Acadian Drive, principal to heroin and methamphetamine distribution.

Terrell Miller, 29, Morgan Street, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine.

Willie McKinley, 27, Senator Circle, methamphetamine distribution.


Sharonda Douglas, 38, Bonvillain Street, principal to heroin distribution.

Kip Bergeron, 25, Chateau Road, methamphetamine distribution.

Leo Kimber Jr., 37, Furman Street, heroin distribution.


Pizarro Kimber, 34, Bonvillain Street, three counts heroin distribution and use of CDS in the presence of a juvenile.

Kyle Keegan, 40, Grand Calliou Road, heroin distribution.

Darius Scott, 22, Grand Calliou Road, heroin distribution.


Kami Bergeron, 34, Mahler Street, methamphetamine distribution.

John BarriosJoe BassTravis BurnsSharonda DouglasAshley ForemanBrandy GuidryKyle KeeganPizarro KimberTerrell MillerElliott ParkerKeith PattersonDerek Pellegrin Jr.Rebecca St. Pierre