CRIME BLOTTER: Reported offenses in the Tri-parish area

HPD makes arrest

A 35-year-old Houma man is in custody of the Houma Police Department after authorities allege he fired shots across from Acadian Elementary School.

Authorities were called to the 1000 block of Saadi Street on Jan. 9 in reference to shots being fired.

Upon arrival, authorities located Brian Beagan, of Saadi Street. He admitted to discharging a Mossberg 22 rifle in the front and rear of his residence.

During questioning, officers recovered seven weapons for safekeeping. Authorities on the scene also reported smelling a strong odor of an alcoholic beverage from Beagan.

Beagan was arrested and charged with illegal discharge of a firearm within the city limits.

Investigators arrest online child predator in Houma

A 52-year-old Houma man faces 17 years in prison if found guilty of online crimes.

Dwayne A. Peltier, 52, of 180 Pitre St., was arrested as part of a joint investigation that involved the Attorney General’s High Technology Unit, the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office and the Department of Homeland Security Investigations.

Pitre is charged with computer-aided solicitation of a minor and indecent behavior with a juvenile.

No other information was released regarding the arrest.

The suspect is currently in the Terrebonne Parish Jail.

Man arrested twice in six days for similar crime

A Gray man was arrested twice in six days for burglarizing one home and entering another without permission, Lafourche authorities said.

Walter Richard, 32, of 121 Lydia St., confessed both crimes to Lafourche sheriff’s detectives, department spokesman Deputy Brennan Matherne said.

Richard was initially arrested Dec. 29 after a family returned to their home in the 200 block of Lee Drive in Thibodaux only to find the Gray man inside their house, Matherne said. Richard told deputies he was trying to contact the family and entered the back door, which he said was unlocked.

Authorities charged Richard with unauthorized entry of an inhabited dwelling. He was released from jail after posting a $1,000 bond.

Richard was back in jail on Jan. 3 in connection with a burglary that occurred Dec. 28 in the 500 block of Abby Road in Thibodaux.

Matherne said detectives learned Richard allegedly tried to sell jewelry reportedly taken during the burglary. When detectives questioned him about the stolen items, Matherne said Richard admitted he’d taken it. He was charged with simple burglary of an inhabited dwelling, and is being held at the Lafourche Parish Detention Center in Thibodaux in lieu of a $35,000 bond, which was set by Judge John LeBlanc.

Suspect arrested on suspicion of rape

A 20-year-old Houma man has been arrested this week and charged after he allegedly had sex with juvenile girls.

On Jan. 2, the Houma Police Department received a complaint regarding a male suspect being involved in sexual activity with three juvenile females in Nov. 2013.

The girls were ages 11-15, according to the police.

HPD detectives learned during investigation that the suspect in the case was Christopher Songe, of 1469 Ellender St.

Authorities learned that Songe was at a residence within the 400 block of Levron Street where he engaged in conversation with the alleged victims. Authorities said that Songe would provide the girls with alcohol and illegal narcotics before having sex with them.

On Jan. 8, HPD tried to contact Songe at various locations, but were unsuccessful. At 3 p.m. that afternoon, he turned himself into the HPD and was arrested for two counts of simple rape and one count of aggravated rape.

He was taken to the Terrebonne Parish Jail where he remains in lieu of bond.

Wreck leads to fight in Houma

A Houma man wrecked into another car on purpose this week, according to police.

Authorities said he then got in a fight and caused minor injuries to a victim, leading to his arrest.

On Jan. 9, just before 11 a.m., the Houma Police Department was called to the intersection of Grand Caillou Road and Tunnel Boulevard in reference to a wreck.

Once on the scene, officers said they observed that two males were now arguing in the middle of the street following the accident.

A silver Jaguar and a white Dodge Charger were involved in the crash, according to authorities.

As the investigation continued, officers learned that the Jaguar’s driver, James Pitre, 35, of 143 Kraemer St., was driving reckless on Grand Caillou Road, in a southbound direction toward Tunnel Boulevard weaving into and out of traffic.

Law enforcement said they then learned that Pitre pulled in front of the white Dodge Charger, placed his vehicle in reverse and then backed into the vehicle intentionally.

Once this happened, the driver of the Charger observed Pitre exit the vehicle in an attempt to leave the scene.

The victim then confronted Pitre, according to authorities, which caused Pitre to become belligerent and start fighting with him.

During investigation, HPD also noticed a 2-year-old female in the backseat of Pitre’s vehicle sitting in an unsecured child restraint device.

The child was released to a relative of the suspect.

Pitre has been arrested and charged with reckless operation of a motor vehicle, aggravated criminal damage to property, simple battery, improper use of a child restraint and obstruction of a highway.

St. Mary makes arrests

The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office made three arrests On Jan. 9 after answering 38 total complaints.

Joshua Lousteau, 33, of 3017 Lizabeth Drive, Morgan City, was arrested at 12:15 p.m., on a warrant for failure to appear for issuing worthless checks. A deputy came into contact with the suspect at the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office and learned of his warrant, which led to an arrest. He was released on a $1,000 bond.

James Thoune, 21, of 211 Broadway Street, Church Point, and Caleb Gros, 17, of 154 Sun Road, Bayou Vista, were each charged with disturbing the peace (fighting). The arrests come after a deputy responded to a report of a fight on Mars Road in Bayou Vista. Through statements from witnesses, deputies learned that the two suspects were involved in a fist fight. They were both released and issued criminal summons to appear on April 28.