The Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Office, with the assistance of its K9 officer Diego, has conducted a drug roundup over the past several days. The following is a rundown of the citations that were issued along with the arrests that were made in connection with the incidents.
On Thursday, October 22, the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Criminal Patrol Division responded to a call of several subjects using narcotics. Upon arrival, the property manager requested the K9 search the area. Deputy Matthew Willis and Diego then went to work. While doing an open-air search, Diego alerted to three different locations. The property manager along with Deputy Willis made contact with the occupants, and permission to search was granted. The following arrest were the results of the search.
John Robert Corzine
W/M age 65
1001 Reed Street Apt# 77
Ville Platte
Charged with possession of drug paraphernalia
Steven Bourgeois
W/M age 32
1001 Reed Street Apt# 89
Ville Platte
Charged with possession of marijuana
Abby Fontenot
W/F age 60
1001 Reed Street Apt# 79
Ville Platte
Charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana
All three were released on a citation.
Days later, on Tuesday, October 27, the Evangeline Parish Sheriff’s Department Criminal Patrol Unit, conducted a traffic stop on La. Hwy 10 Oakdale
Rd. A 2004 GMC pickup truck was stopped for a traffic violation. The driver of the vehicle, Calem Kirk Fontenot, was advised of the reason for the stop. Fontenot was extremely nervous, and there was an odor of marijuana coming from the truck. Willis then deployed K9 Diego, which indicated to the presence of narcotics in the truck. The deputy then conducted a search of the truck and found 10 grams of suspected marijuana. The driver of the truck was charged with possession of Marijuana on a criminal citation.
Calem Kirk Fontenot
6235 La. 10
Pitkin
Age 42
Charged with violation of possession of marijuana.
Then on Thursday, October 29, the Evangeline Parish Sheriff Department Criminal Patrol Unit was traveling north on Chataignier Street in Ville Platte. At which time, Deputy Willis noticed a jeep commit a traffic violation. He stopped the vehicle at East Washington and Chataignier Street and made contact with the driver, Craig Vidrine. The deputy advised Vidrine of the reason for the stop. Deputy Willis also made contact with the two passengers and then deployed K9 Diego do to the actions of the occupants in the vehicle. K9 Diego alerted to the presence of narcotics. Deputy Willis then performed a search of the vehicle, and the following arrests were made.
Shanie Rider
1126 Rollins Road
Ville Platte
Age 28 W/F
Charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond is pending.
Martin Peter Johnson
626 North Oak Street
Opelousas
Age 41 B/M
Charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Bond is pending.
Craig Hunter Vidrine
200 Hwy 10
Opelousas
Age 32 W/M
Cited for switched license plate, driving under suspension, and no insurance.
The arrests continued into November, and the first this month came on Tuesday, November 3, when the Evangeline Parish Sheriff Department’s Criminal Patrol Unit conducted a traffic stop on a white Toyota truck, in the 900 block of South Chataignier Street in Ville Platte.
The driver was extremely nervous and showed signs of drug use. The passengers were also removed from the vehicle.
Criminal Patrol Deputy Willis then deployed K9 Diego who alerted to the possible presence of narcotics. Diego alerted on the vehicle, and a search of the truck was conducted. Once the search was completed, the following charges and arrest were made.
Michael Jean Charles II
813 East Street Mamou
W/M AGE 22
Charged with possession of methamphetamine- 2.7 grams. He was also cited for the traffic violation. Bond is pending at this time.
Joseph Ray Navarre
801 Railroad Street Mamou
W/M Age 38
Was cited for possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia. He was cited and released.