18-year-old arrested after social media threat against teacher

(Editor’s note: The charges listed here and the narratives that go with them are provided by the police agencies that made the arrests. Guilt or innocence has not been determined in court.)

A Berwick teenager was arrested Thursday after a Snapchat threat against a teacher, the St. Mary Sheriff’s Office said.

St. Mary

Sheriff Blaise Smith reported that over the last 24-hour reporting period, the Sheriff’s Office responded to 67 complaints and made these arrests:

--Dravian Morris, 18, Berwick, was arrested at 8:05 p.m. Thursday on a charge of assault on a school teacher.

On Thursday, deputies were made aware of a threat that was posted to Snapchat concerning a local teacher. The deputies began an investigation into the incident and identified Morris as the subject who allegedly posted the threat.

Deputies traveled to Morris’ residence in Berwick and made contact with him. Morris was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Bail has not been set at this time.

“The St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to the safety of our citizens and therefore we consider threats towards school personnel to be serious,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “Those threats will be handled accordingly.”

--Audwin Jay Williams Jr., 24, Berwick, was arrested by the Narcotics Section at 5:49 p.m. Thursday on charges of improper lane use, child not in child restraint system, possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a juvenile.

On Thursday, a detective with the SMPSO Narcotics Section was patrolling Bayou Vista on La. 182 when he observed a vehicle cross the center line. The detective conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle and made contact with the driver, identified as Williams.

Through the investigation, a bag of marijuana was located along with prepackaged baggies of marijuana. A child was a passenger in the vehicle and was not secured in a child restraint system.

Williams was transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center for booking. Bail has not yet been set at this time.

--Christopher Lynn Haynes, 40, Patterson, was arrested at 1:36 a.m.. Friday on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of Schedule IV drugs, driving under suspension, and turning movements and required signals.

Haynes was also named in two warrants alleging failure to appear on charges of bank fraud, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine.

Bail was set at $15,000.

--Brittany Nicole Soprano, 27, Lafayette, was arrested at 6:41 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia. Soprano was released on a $1,000 bond.

--Nicole Marie Legnon, 35, Berwick, was arrested at 11:38 a.m. Wednesday on two warrants alleging failure to appear on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal trespassing. Bail has not been set at this time.

--Brinkley Elizabeth Dantin, 22, Galliano, was arrested at 9:12 p.m. Wednesday on a warrant alleging failure to appear on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession of heroin and possession of marijuana.

Bail has not been set at this time.

--Mekhi Branton, 19, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:31 p.m. Wednesday by the Narcotics Section on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting an officer, possession of methamphetamine, and view outward or inward through windshield or window (window tent), and on a warrant alleging failure appear on a charge of failure to yield to an emergency vehicle.

Branton was released on a completed sentence/paid fines.

--Joshua Pojar, 41, Morgan City, was arrested at 3:28 p.m. Wednesday by the Narcotics Section on a warrant alleging possession of methamphetamine. Bail has not been set at this time.

Morgan City

Chief Chad M. Adams reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 81 calls for service over the last 48-hour reporting period and made these arrests:

--Passion Monae Harris, 26, Bowman Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:56 p.m. Wednesday on four counts of failure to appear for sentencing (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--John Anthony Shields, 41, Louisa Street, Morgan City, was arrested at 10:40 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of domestic abuse battery.

--Norman Joseph Vining Jr., 56, Railroad Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 4:47 a.m. Thursday on charges of aggravated battery of a dating partner and possession of hydrocodone.

--Samuel Jason LaCoste, 44, Brashear Avenue, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:47 p.m. Thursday on a charge of criminal trespassing.

--Patrick Marcus Mullins, 55, La. 182, Morgan City, was arrested at 1:47 p.m. Thursday on charges of criminal trespassing and failure to appear to pay fine (6th Ward Morgan City Court).

--Brayan Alvarado, 24 years of age, W. Syls Lane, Amelia, was arrested at 9:27 p.m. Thursday on charges of driving while intoxicated (first offense), reckless operation of a motor vehicle and no driver’s license.

Franklin

Interim Chief Tina Thibodeaux reported that Franklin Police Department responded to five complaints over the last 24-hour reporting period and made this arrest.

--Joaquima Brown, 28, Martin Luther King Boulevard, Franklin, was arrested at 11:14 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant dated Oct. 21 alleging simple assault, terrorizing and disturbing the peace. Brown was booked, processed and transported to the St. Mary Parish Law Enforcement Center.

Assumption

Sheriff Leland Falcon reported this arrest:

--Timothy Wayne Collier, 23, Honey Lane, Bayou L’Ourse, was arrested Wednesday on a charge of theft of a firearm and on a probation detainer.

Deputies responded to a complaint relative to the theft of a firearm. Deputies made contact with the complainant, who advised that while she was at work, Collier had come to her home and had taken a rifle as well as a car.

Witnesses identified Collier, and the suspect was known to the complainant. Collier returned the vehicle later the same morning but not the firearm.

At the conclusion of the investigation, the deputy applied for and was granted an arrest warrant for Collier.

Collier was arrested in St. Mary Parish and transferred and booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Facility. He remains incarcerated pending a bond hearing.