Crime Blotter: Reported offenses in the Tri-parishes

Inmate dies in St. Mary Correctional Facility

The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office announced this week that an inmate at the parish’s correctional facility has passed away.

Authorities say that Eric J. Vining, 36, of 415 Hunting Road, Ricohoc, was returning to his cell on Saturday evening at 5:30 p.m. after taking a shower.

Authorities say jail personnel reported Vining looked ill.

Medical staff was called to treat the prisoner and Acadian Ambulance was also summoned. Despite efforts to revive Vining, authorities say the prisoner was pronounced dead at the facility by the St. Mary Parish Coroner’s Office.

Authorities say the investigation is ongoing and no further details are available at this time.

Vining was in custody after being arrested on July 23 for attempted second-degree murder.

He was being held in lieu of a $1 million bond.

 

Auto theft suspect nabbed after standoff

Thibodaux Police Chief Scott Silverii announced that his office has arrested an 18-year-old who allegedly stole a vehicle from Daiquiris & Co.

Last Tuesday at 9 p.m., TPD was called to the business on St. Mary Street in reference to a 2002 Cadillac Deville being stolen.

Once on the scene, authorities say a victim told them that a guy named “Smoke” had stolen his vehicle.

The victim informed officers that “Smoke’s” real name was Deonte’ Matthews, 18.

Authorities were able to locate Mathews in the 200 Block of Mobile Estates Drive, Houma.

With help from the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office, TPD was able to take the suspect into custody following a brief standoff.

 

71-year-old man arrested for second-offense DWI

Thibodaux Police Chief Scott Silverii said that a 71-year-old was taken into custody this week for his second DWI.

TPD spokesman detective David Melancon said Glenn Falgout, 71, of Thibodaux, is charged with DWI (second offense), no seatbelt and open alcohol container this past Saturday after officers observed a green Toyota Yaris swerving on the road.

Melancon said Falgout was initially pulled over after officers noticed the driver was not wearing a seatbelt.

After observing an ice chest of beer and an open beer bottle inside the vehicle, Melancon said officers gave Falgout a field sobriety test, which he failed.

 

HPD picks up 2 for car-burglary string

The Houma Police Department announced this week that it nabbed two men they believe are responsible for three separate car burglaries within the area.

Craig P. Conrad, 26, of North Bayou Black Drive and Aaron D. Smith, 28, of Thomas Drive, are both charged with three counts of car burglary and are being held in the Terrebonne Parish Jail.

The arrests stem from a string of car thefts from July 20-23 within Oak and Peach Street in Houma.

Following an investigation, detectives were able to develop a lead in the case that Conrad and Smith could be responsible for the three break-ins that occurred at that location.

Authorities say all three incidents showed that the suspects gained entry without force and were committed in the evening-early morning hours.

HPD located the two men Friday at 12:40 a.m. and placed each under arrest without incident.

 

Suspect arrested for hit and run

Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter said that a 37-year-old is behind bars for his alleged role in a hit-and-run accident.

TPSO authorities say that last Tuesday at approximately 12:30 a.m., deputies responded to the intersection of Prospect Boulevard and Coteau Road in reference to a hit and run.

Once on the scene, authorities came into contact with a 27-year-old female victim who said that she was involved in a domestic confrontation with her ex-boyfriend, Harvey Nixon, 116 Nicole St., Houma.

The victim said that after she left her residence, Nixon followed her. When she stopped at a red light at the intersection of Coteau Road and Prospect Boulevard, he allegedly intentionally rammed into her vehicle with his 1999 GMC Sierra pickup truck and then fled the scene.

No one was injured in the crash, but the victim’s vehicle had moderate damage to its rear bumper.

Deputies responded to Nixon’s address and questioned him about the incident. Authorities say he denied ramming his ex-girlfriend with his vehicle.

But he was taken into custody after detectives observed substantial damage to his truck’s front bumper.

Nixon is charged with aggravated criminal damage to property and hit and run. He is held in lieu of a $50,000 bond.

 

2 juveniles arrested for burglarizing parked 18-wheeler

Two juveniles were arrested after they allegedly tried to steal items from an 18-wheeler parked at the 100 block of Prince Collins Street in Houma.

The Houma Police Department announced that a 14- and 15-year-old were arrested after a brief foot pursuit.

Police were tipped off that the suspects were removing items out of a yellow 18-wheeler around midnight, Lt. Dana Coleman said. As police were investigating the truck’s exterior, two black males emerged from the cab and started to run away.

The juveniles were charged with simple burglary, resisting an officer and curfew for minors. They were booked at the Terrebonne Parish Juvenile Detention Center.

 

Violent drug deal lands 4 in jail

A Schriever man who was the victim of a home invasion has been arrested on conspiracy to distribute Roxicondone pills, which were allegedly the target of the invasion, Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter said.

Joseph Mike Fredrick, 22, of 124 Hingle Court, was arrested last Friday and is being held in lieu of a $100,000 bond. He is charged with conspiracy to distribute illegal Schedule II narcotics.

Matthew Thomas Grissom, 25, and Lacey Dempster Grissom, 24, both of 202 Gloria St., Schriever, were charged with home invasion and conspiracy to possess illegal Schedule II narcotics. Miles Joseph Scioneaux, 25, of 486 La. Highway 307, Thibodaux, was also arrested and charged with the same crimes.

Fredrick told investigators the three suspects arrived at his home to purchase the pills. When Fredrick opened the door, he was allegedly struck in the face and fell to the ground. Fredrick grabbed his handgun and fired a shot into the ground, Larpenter said.

The suspects stole Fredrick’s pills and two 40-caliber handguns before fleeing in a white Honda pickup truck, Fredrick allegedly told investigators.

 

LPSO warns of scam

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office has learned of a new scamming technique and is passing along the information to local citizens.

Scammers posing as representatives of Publishers Clearing House are allegedly informing people they have won a large sum of money and luxury automobile. To redeem the prize, victims are being asked to obtain a “Green Dot MoneyPak” card from a local retailer and load several hundred dollars onto the card. The victim is then supposed to call a phone number and give the prepaid debit card number to the false representatives, which allows the scammers to spend the money freely, LPSO Deputy Brennan Matherne said.

At least one Lafourche Parish resident has been approached with this scam, though the local did not purchase the debit card, Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre said.

“This is a typical ‘pay for prizes’ scam where the scammer asks you for money in return for prizes,” Webre said. The sheriff said any legitimate company offering someone a prize allows the winner to hang up and call back after verifying its information.

Anybody who receives a similar telephone call is asked to refuse the instructions, hang up the phone and contact the local law enforcement agency.