BAYOU CRIME

Suspect arrested after school officials felt he was a possible threat to students

The Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested a Montegut man this week after his behavior allegedly made officials with a local school fear for student’s safety

On Tuesday, TPSO detectives were called to the First United Methodist Children’s Learning Center at 6109 La. Highway 311 in Houma in reference to a suspicious man on the school’s campus.

Authorities arrived at the location and made contact with an employee who told deputies about the man. The worker also informed authorities that the same man was there on Monday afternoon, stating that he was at the school to see his daughter.

TPSO said the suspect told the worker on Monday afternoon that he learned from a Facebook message that he had a daughter he wasn’t aware of and that she attended school at that facility.

Authorities said the man had a school document with a child’s name on it that he allegedly retrieved from somewhere in the building. The document was dated May 8, 2017.

But according to records from the Learning Center, the man at the school, identified as Budd Thomas Bergeron, 33, of 1701 La. Highway 55, Montegut, was not the father of the child in question.

Workers at the school told Bergeron on Monday that all children had left for the day and he was asked to leave the property.

On Tuesday as employees arrived at work, the same man was there in a pick-up truck. Authorities said workers again asked Bergeron to leave the property.

TPSO said Bergeron complied, but went to a public highway near the school, which led workers at the Learning Center to place the facility on lock down and call authorities.

When detectives responded, they made contact with Bergeron in the parking lot of the Houma-Terrebonne Civic Center, which faces the Learning Center.

He was arrested and charged with attempted unlawful disruption of the operation of a school.

He is held in the Terrebonne Parish Jail on a $5,000 bond.

2 charged in jail contraband scheme

The Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office announced that two suspects were arrested and charged this week after allegedly trying to sneak contraband into the parish’s jail.

Sheriff Craig Webre said that on April 30, correctional officers at the jail noticed a broken exterior window on a cell block.

Recognizing this as a means of possible contraband entering the jail, officers conducted an exterior check of the facility and located a string extending from the broken window to a black sock, which had become entangled in the razor wire on the perimeter fencing.

Inside the sock, officers said they discovered several grams of suspected marijuana, smoking tobacco and a disposable lighter.

Through investigation, authorities developed inmate Philip Green, 26, of Thibodaux, as a suspect.

LPSO also learned that Deja Smith, 19, of Thibodaux, communicated with Green to arrange for the contraband drop-off, which led authorities to obtain warrants for both.

Green, who was already in jail on narcotics and weapons charges, is now charged with attempted possession of marijuana, taking contraband to a penal institution and simple criminal damage to property.

He’s held without bail for a parole violation.

Authorities located Smith last Wednesday and arrested her without incident.

She’s charged with principal to distribution of marijuana and taking contraband to a penal institution. She is out after posting a $10,000 bond last week.

Help needed for Eastside burglary

The Houma Police Department sent out a news release this week asking for the public’s help in cracking a burglary case from early April.

According to authorities, two suspects committed burglary on April 6, 2017 on the Eastside of Houma.

HPD is asking that folks be mindful of what’s on the market locally and that if anyone learns of possible stolen property being sold to please contact police.

In the suspected burglary, a large amount of property was stolen, including thousands of dollars worth of fishing and boating equipment.

Authorities have surveillance of the persons suspected in the burglary, but the footage is from nighttime hours and it’s hard to get a clear, accurate rundown of a description.

Anyone with information is asked to call HPD at (985) 873-6371. Information which leads to an arrest can generate a cash reward.

Wanted suspect caught in Terrebonne Parish

A wanted suspect was apprehended by the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office on Wednesday night and is being held on a $375,000 bond at the parish’s jail.

On May 10 at approximately 9:30 p.m., TPSO Narcotics Task Force officers were on patrol when they came in contact with Jakai Smith, 22, of 3721 Baker Drive, Houma – a known wanted suspect.

The agents were near the 300 block of Richmond Drive when they encountered Smith and Kerinesha Wiltz, 20, of 171 Senator Circle, Houma sitting in a vehicle.

Authorities said there was a strong odor or marijuana emitting from the vehicle.

The suspects were taken from the vehicle and detained as the investigation continued.

As officers searched the vehicle, they allegedly recovered marijuana, drug paraphernalia, Loratabs and a .45 caliber handgun.

Both suspects were arrested for possession of marijuana with the intent to distribute, drug paraphernalia, possession of Loratab and possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance with a firearm.

Smith was also charged on his outstanding warrants, which consisted of charges of aggravated second-degree battery, aggravated criminal damage to property and rioting. Those charges are in connection with a shooting, which occurred at Village East Park on March 25, and Smith is the sixth suspect arrested in that case, and the case remains under investigation.

Smith was also charged with failure to appear in court on a prior incident.

Wiltz is held on a $15,000 bond, and Smith is held on a $375,000 bond.

Smith was also charged with failure to appear in court. He remains in the Terrebonne Parish Criminal Justice Complex on a $375,000.00 bond while Wiltz remain in jail on $15,000.00 bond.