~NARCOTIC ARRESTS AND CITATIONS~

 On April 19, 2024 Narcotic Agents with the Evangeline Parish Sheriff's Office was conducting surveillance in and around 900 block of within the city limits of Mamou, when Narcotic Agents observed a blue in color Dodge Truck Drive up the residence parallel to the mailbox located on Balfa Brothers St. for 904 South Street within a few minutes of the USPS Mail Carrier delivering mail to the residence.  Agents observed the same vehicle bearing the Louisiana License Plate Z640179, fail to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of Balfa Brother Street and Redwood Street as well as not using a signal while conducting a right turn onto Redwood Street.  Agents activated their emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop.   Upon agents making contact with the driver who was identified as Ryan Rider and Ryder was advised to the reason for the traffic stop.   Upon Ryder producing his driver's license and proof of insurance, agent could smell the odor of marijuana emitting from the vehicle.  Rider was instructed to step out of the vehicle and step to the rear of the vehicle.  Rider was asked if there was any illegal narcotics within the vehicle in which he stated no and gave verbal consent to search the vehicle.  A female passenger and child were also advised to exit the vehicle.  A Search of the vehicle was conducted, located within a voided area under the radio was a smoked hand rolled cigar containing marijuana weighing 1.1 grams. Located within a cigarette package was a loose bud of Marijuana weighing 0.8 grams, belonging to S. Rider. Rider was given a criminal summons for the Possession of Marijuana and a Arrest Warrant was obtain for Rider for Possession of Illegal Narcotics in the presence of a minor.

On May 23, 2024, Narcotic Agent, while patrolling on Veterans Memorial Parkway, observed a vehicle with a burnt taillight on the rear passenger side bearing Louisiana license plate 297GSR which was traveling north on Veteran Memorial Hwy.  The agent activated the emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop on the vehicle and the vehicle made a right turn into the Y Not Stop (7301 Veteran Memorial Hwy) and pulled into a parking spot in the front of the store before coming to a stop and immediately trying to get out the vehicle.   Addition agents arrived on the scene and they immediately approached the vehicle.  Agents were able to identify the driver as Austin Conley due to prior contact with him involving narcotics. A. Conley immediately became irate and argumentative and was instructed several times to exit the vehicle and provide his driver's license. Conley stood up out of the vehicle but refused to walk to the rear of the vehicle like instructed, but instead continued to be argumentative. When told to face the vehicle so that he could be patted down for officer safety and he turned and faced the vehicle but continued to be argumentative. When patting down Conley's left shorts pocket a glass meth pipe could be felt in his pocket, at that time I verbally identified the object in his pocket as a glass meth pipe and Conley stated it was harassment and when another agent went to pat down the right shorts pocket, Conley attempted to push his right side up against the vehicle.   Conely became physically combative and was taken to the ground still resisting the agents.   Once agents gained control of Conely a pat search of his person, a prescription bottle with the label scratched out containing .6 grams of Methamphetamine.   Because of the immediate use of force Acadian Ambulance was called to conduct a medical assessment on Conley which Conley refused medical treatment.  Due to vehicle not having insurance the vehicle was towed and Conley was issued a traffic citation for Burnt Taillight, Expired Driver's license, and No Insurance, he was also issued a Criminal Citation for Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. A. Conley was then transported to the Evangeline Parish Sheriff Jail for booking. Conley was arrested on 05/23/2023 and charged with Possession of Schedule II and is currently on Probation and has other prior narcotic charges and resisting an officer charge. 

On May 30, 2024 while patrolling on Heritage Road, Narcotic Agents observed a vehicle on Heritage Road towing a Go-Kart with a piece of string and did not have active headlights on.  Agents activated the emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop in which both vehicle and Go-Kart pulled unto a driveway of a residence.  The white Nissan bearing license plate 873DRL belonging to a Lauren Nicole Tassin.  Upon making contact with a white male identified as Austin Brecken who was seated on the Go Kart.  Brecken was advised of the reasoning for the stop and Agents observed the behavior of Brecken immediately become nervous, and fidgeting.  A. Brecken was asked if he possessed any weapons on him in which he stated no and was instructed to turn around so he could be patted down for weapons.  Agents then made contact with the driver of the vehicle identified as Thomas Thrasher.  Thrasher was informed of the reason for the traffic stop and advised to provide his license, proof of insurance and registration information.  Thrasher did not possess a Louisiana License or identification card on his person and through the EPSO dispatch, Agent became aware of Thrasher having a suspended license. Thrasher ordered to exit the vehicle and when exiting the vehicle, Agent observed the nervousness and uncontrollable shaking of his hands as he attempted to remove a torch lighter from the vehicle.  Both Thrasher and Brecken were asked if there were narcotics within the vehicle in which they answered not that they knew of.  When asked to voluntarily search the vehicle both Thrasher and Brecken stated they could not give permission to search the vehicle because it was not their vehicle.  At this Agents deployed the Canine Diego to conduct a free air sniff on the outside perimeter of the vehicle.  Canine Diego alerted to the odor of narcotics on the passenger side of the vehicle.  A search of the vehicle and both Thrasher and Brecken were conducted.   Located in Thrashers right pant pocket was a cigarette pack containing 2 grams of marijuana and a small plastic baggie containing 06 grams of methamphetamines. Thrasher was arrested and charged with Possession of Schedule II methamphetamines and issued a criminal summons for less than 14 grams of marijuana.  Thrasher was also cited for the traffic infraction.

On June 3,2024 Narcotic Agents observed a white male identified as Anthony Gotreaux riding a bicycle in the middle of the roadway blocking traffic from passing freely.  Agents activated the emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop.  Gotreaux came to a stop at the corner of 8th street and Chestnut Street.

Agents made contact with Gotreaux to advised him for the reasoning of the stop.  Gotreaux was asked if he had any weapons and or illegal narcotics on his person.   Gotreaux became nervous and began to fidget with his clothing lifting his shirt up slightly above his belt line while stating he didn't have anything on him.  During this time, Agents observed in plain view was a piece of plastic tucked in his waistline of his pants containing Marijuana.  Gotreaux surrendered the Marijuana located in a piece of plastic in which weighed 4.4 grams.  And a search of Gotreaux's shirt pockets was conducted and a hand rolled marijuana cigarette was located weighing 0.4 grams.

Gotreaux was issued a criminal citation for Obstruction of Public Passage and Possession of Schedule I Marijuana under 14 gram.  Gotreaux arrested and transported to the Evangeline Parish Jail for an Outstanding Felony Warrant.