A Morgan City man was arrested on numerous traffic charges after he ran from police following a traffic stop.

Gregory Bell, 39, of Bush Street in Morgan City was arrested Thursday at 10:52 p.m., charged with aggravated flight from an officer, no driver’s license, no vehicle insurance, no tail lights, no license plate and second offense possession of marijuana.

An officer on patrol in the area of Greenwood and Sixth streets observed a vehicle traveling north on Sixth Street without working tail lights. As the officer attempted to stop the vehicle, he noticed it did not have a license plate either. He stopped the vehicle near Arenz and Sixth streets and told the driver to exit, Chief Marc Folse said.

Bell refused to do so. After several minutes, the vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed, turning west on Terrebonne Street, traveling to Front Street. The vehicle then made a right turn onto Front Street traveling north.

The driver lost control when he attempted to negotiate the curve at Levee Road and Front Street, striking the curb and disabling the vehicle. The driver then fled on foot and a search of the area was made, Folse added.

Officers were able to identify the driver as possibly being Gregory Bell because several items with his name and address were located inside the vehicle.

Officers went to his address on Bush Street and observed a vehicle leaving the residence. They stopped it and located Bell inside.

He was identified by the officer and was arrested.

The vehicle that Bell wrecked belonged to his mother, Folse said.

While officers were checking the interior of the vehicle to see who the driver was, they located a small baggie of suspected marijuana in the center console. Bell also was found not to have a valid driver’s license.

Bell remained incarcerated this morning with no bond set.

Numerous arrests for theft were made Thursday by various agencies.

In Patterson, Ronald Shawn Duffy, 47, of Brownell Street in Morgan City was charged at 6 p.m. on a PPD warrant for theft, Chief Patrick LaSalle said.

He posted a $5,000 bond and was released.

Tammy L. Duffy, 43, of the same address, was charged at 3:57 p.m. on a PPD warrant for theft over $500.

She also posted a $5,000 bond and was released.

No further information on their arrests or the reason for the warrants being issued was available this morning.

In Berwick, Daryan Parvino, 20, of Burchfield Lane in Berwick was arrested at her home at 8:01 p.m. Thursday on a St. Mary Parish Sheriff‘s Department warrant for theft of goods, Chief James Richard said.

She remained incarcerated this morning in the parish jail with no bond set.

PPD officers also arrested George Favors, 44, of Patterson for possession of a schedule II narcotic (hydrocodone), illegal carrying of a weapon (knife) and three counts of resisting by flight.

Favors was arrested at 8:43 p.m. Thursday on Ellis Street in Patterson. He remained incarcerated this morning with no bond set.

In other action, Morgan City Fire Department Assistant Chief Mark Stephens said the department responded to a fire at 514 Franklin Street shortly after 7 a.m. Thursday.

The fire was the result of a pot left on the stove after the resident fell asleep, Stephens said.

The MCFD responded to the scene with 15 personnel at 7:08 a.m., and the fire was out by 7:45 a.m. The blaze was contained to the kitchen area and caused an estimated $5,000 in damage, Stephens said.

Property owner Eula Aucoin, 60, was transported to Teche Regional Medical Center in Morgan City where she was treated and released.

Stephens said MCFD will respond to an average six or seven active fires per year that are the result of pots left on the stove. He said a good tip to avoid the problem is to bring a spoon or pot holder with you if you have to step away from the stove.

The utensil serves as a reminder that you must return to the stove, he said.