Crime Blotter: Reported offenses in the Tri-parishes

Thibodaux Police makes 174th DWI arrest

Thibodaux Police Chief Scott Silverii announced that his office nabbed its 174th impaired driver for the 2012 calendar year.

The latest arrest came last Thursday at 4 p.m. when officers spotted a 1976 Ford F-100 swerving on Plantation Road, nearly hitting other vehicles.

After pulling over the vehicle, authorities say Arthur Anderson, 53, of 109 Oak St., Labadieville, was identified as the vehicle’s driver.

TPD spokesman Det. David Melancon said officers believed Anderson was impaired upon contact with him.

After administering a field sobriety test, the suspect was placed under arrest.

No turn signal leads to DWI and drug arrest

Thibodaux Police Chief Scott Silverii announced this week that his office nabbed a suspect that was driving local roadways despite having more than three times the legal limit of alcohol in his system.

TPD spokesman Det. David Melancon said at approximately 8 p.m. on Saturday, officers located an Acura making a turn without using a turn signal at Canal Boulevard and West 7th Street.

After pulling over the vehicle, Melancon said officers identified the driver as Charles Jason Smith, 33, of 1223 Park Drive, Thibodaux.

Officers say upon contact with Smith, he gave several indications of being impaired, so a field sobriety test was performed.

After failing the first half of the test, Melancon said Smith stopped cooperating with officers.

Once attention was turned to Smith’s vehicle, marijuana was found inside the suspect’s car.

Once in custody, Smith blew more than three times the legal limit for alcohol.

He is charged with DWI, no turn signal, no license plate light and possession of marijuana.

Tool thief nabbed in Houma

The Houma Police Department believes it arrested a man this week responsible for stealing tools from a victim’s yard.

Last Thursday, HPD was called to the 400 block of Melrose Drive in reference to a complaint about tool theft.

When on the scene, authorities say they learned that a male suspect broke into a shed and stole several power tools from the property.

Through investigation, authorities were able to identify Nickolas Paul Daughenbaugh, 24, of 1300 Virginia St., as a suspect.

Through further investigation, police were able to locate the tools at a pawn shop where the alleged suspect allegedly pawned the stolen merchandise.

Daughenbaugh was located and arrested for one count of theft over $500.

Rape suspect arrested in Terrebonne Parish

Terrebonne Parish Sheriff Jerry Larpenter said this week that his office has arrested a 22-year-old male for aggravated rape.

Authorities say the case started in July 2012 when TPSO was alerted that a minor was raped.

During that time, TPSO detectives conducted a preliminary investigation during which authorities learned that the alleged rape took place in 2011.

Authorities say the alleged victim in this case was between 5 and 6 years old when the incidents occurred.

Through investigation, detectives were able to identify family acquaintance Lyle Percle, 22, of 3441 West Main St., Gray, as a suspect.

On Sept. 7, 2012, authorities say Percle was questioned concerning the allegations made against him and he denied the claims.

Despite the denials, Percle was arrested and charged with aggravated rape. He is being held in jail without bond.

Houma man arrested for alleged voyeurism

A 25-year-old Houma man is behind bars after Houma Police officers say he handcuffed, assaulted and took sexually explicit pictures of a woman.

The investigation began when authorities were notified that a female victim was asked to enter the apartment of Frankie Billiot, 25, of La. Highway 315, Houma.

Once inside, police say they learned Billiot handcuffed the woman and assaulted her.

Once assaulted, police say Billiot also videoed and took sexually explicit pictures of the woman without her knowledge.

Police say they located Billiot last Tuesday and arrested him.

He is charged with sexual battery, simple battery and video voyeurism.

Police say the investigation is continuing.

Thibodaux Police nab commandeering suspect

Jeffery Lofton, 47, of 346 California St., Thibodaux, was allegedly sleeping on the porch of a Bayou Blue Road home this week.

His refusal to leave landed him in jail.

TPD spokesman Det. David Melancon said officers were called to the 700 block of Bayou Blue Road at approximately 1 a.m. last Sunday in reference to commandeering.

When police arrived on the scene, they say that they encountered Lofton, who was sleeping on the home’s porch.

Officers tried to wake up Lofton with no avail.

When officers finally awoke Lofton, they say they informed him that he was trespassing, to which he replied, “I know,” and then tried to go back to sleep.

Lofton, whom authorities believe was extremely intoxicated, was placed under arrest and charged with criminal trespassing, disturbing the peace and remaining after being forbidden.

Lafourche man arrested less than 3 weeks after leaving jail

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office announced that it arrested a 46-year-old man who they said was in possession of 29.4 grams of suspected crack cocaine.

LPSO spokesman deputy Brennan Matherne said Proactive Police Unit authorities were on patrol when they observed a vehicle traveling northbound on La. Highway 1 with an inoperable tail lamp.

Matherne said the vehicle turned onto Morristown Bypass Road at a high rate of speed, which caused deputies to conduct a traffic stop.

Once pulled over, Matherne said authorities identified the driver as Chris Wheaton, 46, of 304 Morristown Bypass Road.

Matherne said Wheaton said he didn’t have a driver’s license and the vehicle he was driving was not his.

Deputies say Wheaton was speaking very loudly and was sweating profusely and authorities told the suspect several times to calm down.

Matherne said deputies observed Wheaton’s eyes to be glassy, but he denied being under the influence of any narcotics when asked.

A K-9 unit arrived on the scene and performed a perimeter sweep of Wheaton’s vehicle. The police dog alerted deputies of narcotics inside the vehicle, which led officers inside the car, where they say they located a plastic bag containing 29.4 grams of suspected crack cocaine.

Wheaton was placed under arrest and charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine.

Matherne said Wheaton has an extensive criminal history that includes 33 arrests and 44 prison stays.

His most recent stay in the Lafourche Parish Detention Center ended on Aug. 22, 2012 when he was released after serving a prison sentence for four counts of resisting an officer with force or violence.