CRIME BLOTTER

Thibodaux men arrested for aggravated burglary

The Houma Police Department announced this week that three Thibodaux men are in custody after they allegedly invaded a home in Senator Circle.

According to HPD spokesman Sgt. Kyle Faulk, officers were called to the neighborhood Thursday morning.

Once there, a victim advised officers that three suspects entered his home, demanding money.

Once out of the home, the victim said the three armed suspects fled in a tan 1993 Nissan Altima.

Officers left Senator Circle and located a vehicle matching the description, starting a pursuit.

Faulk said the vehicle stopped near Rhonda Annette Court during which three of the five passengers inside were taken into custody, while two others fled on foot and remain at large.

Arrested on the scene were Anthony Ramon Ford Jr., 18, of 1805 St. Bernard St., Thibodaux, Antoine Westley, 17, of 136 Belle Isle Drive, Thibodaux and Jermaine Miles, 18, of 310 Eauclaire Drive, Thibodaux.

All three are charged with one count of aggravated burglary.

Faulk said anyone with additional information about the crime is asked to contact the HPD at 868-5500.

Narcotics agents arrest cocaine dealer

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced Friday that a Thibodaux man has been arrested for the distribution of crack cocaine.

Ronald P. Reed Jr., 24, of 1511 Bell St., is facing charges of drug distribution and possession after Lafourche Parish Drug Task Force agents located the suspect at a Thibodaux truck stop Thursday evening.

LPDTF agents gathered at the truck stop after learning Reed might be in the area.

Shortly after 7 p.m., officers say Reed drove into the parking lot, during which a Thibodaux K-9 Officer working with the LPDTF activated his emergency lights to try and get Reed to stop his vehicle.

LPSO spokesman Brennan Matherne said Reed pulled into a parking spot near the officer’s car, and placed his hands into his pants pockets.

Matherne said agents then ordered Reed out of the vehicle and placed him under arrest for an active warrant for distribution of crack cocaine.

During a pat down, a clear plastic bag of suspected cocaine fell from Reed’s pants, according to authorities.

During a subsequent field test conducted at the scene, Matherne said the substance in the bag tested positive as cocaine and weighed 13 gross grams.

Reed was transported to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center.

In addition to the charge for distribution, he is also charged with possession of cocaine due to the bag in his possession.

He is held in lieu of an $80,000 bond.

Matherne said Reed has been arrested 15 times in the past four years on various charges, including distribution of a schedule IV controlled dangerous substance, domestic abuse battery, simple battery, forgery, resisting an officer and flight from an officer.

Deputies catch home burglar in the act in Thibodaux

Lafourche Parish Sheriff Craig Webre announced that a Thibodaux man was arrested this week after he was allegedly caught in the act of burglarizing a home on the 500 block of Paula Drive.

LPSO spokesman Brennan Matherne said authorities responded to that location early last Wednesday after a homeowner, who was not home at the time, reported that a neighbor said a possible break-in occurred at the residence and the suspect may still be inside.

Upon arrival, Matherne said officers noticed a broken window on the front of the house and they also observed a shadow inside the home, during which additional units were called to assist in setting up a perimeter around the home

The suspect, Raymonte D. Ballard, 22, of 426 Frederick Drive, finally emerged from the front door of the home after a K-9 officer arrived on the scene.

He was arrested and placed in a patrol.

While in custody, deputies noticed Ballard attempted to swallow a plastic bag containing an unknown white substance.

The deputy ordered the suspect to release the bag from his mouth, but he failed to do so, eventually swallowing the bag.

Matherne said deputies attempted to place Ballard back into the patrol car while waiting for the ambulance, but he resisted and struck two deputies, while continuing to kick even while deputies escorted him to the ground.

During a pat down, officers located a marijuana cigarette. When asked what he swallowed, the suspect told officers he swallowed six Xanax bills.

After being taken to the hospital as a precaution, Ballard was released and arrested. He was charged with simple battery of an inhabited dwelling, possession of marijuana, resisting an officer and obstruction of justice.

He is held in lieu of a $23,000 bond.

Authorities seize more than $17,000 in illegal pills, synthetic marijuana

A Lockport man already serving jail time for the alleged sale of synthetic marijuana saw his charges compound last week after deputies claim to have seized more than $17,000 worth of illegal drugs en route to his house.

Keith Guerra, Jr., 26, 509 A Justin St., was initially arrested Jan. 27 after undercover agents purchased two bags of incense from him that contained Naphthoylindoles, considered by state law as synthetic cannabinoids, Lafourche Sheriff’s spokesman Brennan Matherne said.

After his arrest, the United States Postal Service, through consultation with the sheriff’s office, withheld several packages addressed to Guerra that had been shipped from Mississippi, India and Pakistan, Matherne said.

After obtaining a warrant, the Postal Inspector found the packages included 3,496 pills, including Alprazolam, Diazepam and Clonazepam, and 21.3 grams of powder Naphthoylindoles. Altogether, the street value of the drugs is valued at $17,580, Matherne said.

The drugs were tested at the State Police Crime Lab. Afterward, Guerra was charged with three counts of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule IV CDS and one count of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I CDS.

Guerra, who had not been released after his January arrest, was booked on the additional charges Friday. His bond stands at $160,000.

“Through this operation, we have cut off a significant supplier to our area,” Sheriff Craig Webre said. “I thank the Thibodaux Police Department and Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office for their roles in this operation. We hope this is a sign to drug dealers that we will remain unrelenting in our fight to get illegal drugs off our streets.”

At the time of his initial arrest, Guerra had arrest warrants against him from previous undercover purchases, Matherne said. He was charged with three counts of felony distribution of a Schedule I Controlled Dangerous Substance and one count of possession with intent to distribute a Schedule I CDS.

After receiving permission from Guerra, deputies searched his home and found “assorted packaging equipment and paraphernalia as well as manufacturing materials and chemical extract,” Matherne said.

Over the past few years, lawmakers and enforcers have targeted the sale, purchase and use of incense and bath salts, known to be used recreationally similar to marijuana and other banned substances.

Officials say the synthetic marijuana carries inherent dangers.

“The use of these substances has been on the rise in recent years,” Lt. John Champagne of the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office said. “These substances fall under the guise of ‘incense’ and tend to give users the impression they are less lethal than other drugs, when they can actually be just as harmful, if not more so.”