ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / October 7, 2000

LAPLACE – Four months of undercover work by the Narcotics Bureau of the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office netted 21 drug dealers from allover the parish Tuesday afternoon. One of those arrested was a 15-year-oldLaPlace boy charged with distribution of marijuana.

The arrests were the results of two ongoing investigations known as Operation 504 and Operation 497. Armed with 67 arrest warrants, deputiesswooped down on houses in Lucy, Edgard, Wallace,Vacherie, Garyville, Reserve and LaPlace.

Lt. Octavio Gonzales, head of the Narcotics Bureau said, “This should slow updrug sales in the parish for awhile.”Most of the suspects were categorized by Gonzales as street dealers and mid-level dealers.

The warrants were for distributing crack cocaine and marijuana. Each countcarries a mandatory sentence of five years in prison, and the judge can add up to 30 years to the sentence.

Gonzales was especially happy with two arrests because the suspects had been on his wanted list for a long time and are considered major dealers in the parish.

Jabarious Eugene, 19, 224 Central Ave, Reserve, was booked with four counts of distribution of crack cocaine and one count of distribution of marijuana. Gonzales said Eugene is a repeat offender. Also considered a major player in the parish drug trade is David Reynard, 22, 1512 Belle Pointe, LaPlace. He was charged with five counts of distributingmarijuana. Deputies impounded the cars of both Eugene and Reynard.Authorities also recovered a stolen pistol and 23.2 grams of marijuana whenthey arrested Eugene.

Police found Eugene with some friends standing outside the residence at 202 E. 13th St. in Reserve. When Eugene spotted authorities he ran inside thehouse. Deputies had a search warrant, and they entered the house andarrested Eugene. The marijuana was found on the suspect.During a search of the house, deputies discovered a Glock .45 caliberhandgun hidden under a mattress. After checking the serial numbers on thegun it was discovered to be a weapon stolen in a Garyville burglary. DeniseJohnson, 30, who lives in the apartment, was arrested and charged with possession of stolen property.

Also arrested in the roundup were Deon Anderson, 29, 360 W. Second,LaPlace; Charles Gusset, 50, 609 Killdeer, LaPlace; Jarret Hauge, 17, 115 Louisiana Ave., LaPlace; Corey Jackson, 26, 1937A Jasper Lane, LaPlace;Wayne Johnson, 20, 368 S. Fig St., Garyville; Antonio Jones, 19, 324Homewood Drive, Reserve; Alvin Joseph, 23, 501 Little Hope, Garyville; Cardell Lewis, 41, 723 Highway 18, Vacherie; Marlon Lewis, 20, 11 Valentine, Edgard; Tyrone Lumar, 46, 408 Central Ave., Edgard; Jermaine Mitchell, 21,241 Central Ave., Edgard; Blaine Morris, 20, 235 Central Ave., Edgard; PaulPoche, 44, 202 W. Fifth St., Wallace; Tommie Poche, 25, 202 W. Fifth St.,Vacherie; Bryant Roussell, 28, 1078 E Tigerville Loop, Edgard; Keith Smith, 32, 154 E. 13th St., Reserve’ and Dwayne Thomas, 24, 133 Phillip Court,Edgard.

Return To News Stories