Lowder
A man claiming to be a military veteran was arrested for reportedly trying to cash a fraudulent check at a local gas station.
Minden Police Chief Steve Cropper says police were dispatched to the Chevron station on Sibley Road, Saturday, April 30, in reference to the fraudulent check. Officer First Class Jesse Cutrer and Sgt. Joel Kendrick made contact with the suspect, identified as Malcolm Richard Lowder, 23, of the 3900 block of Larue Street in Shreveport.
Lowder reportedly told police he was trying to cash a payroll check, Cropper said.
“The clerk in the store stated the check was fake and he’d cashed another check there on April 14,” the chief said.
Kendrick collected copies of both checks and indicated both were fraudulent, he said.
During the investigation, Cutrer asked Lowder if he had anything on him that he should not, and he reportedly told police he had a firearm in the waistband of his pants underneath his jacket. The firearm was retrieved, and Lowder then told police he had a Louisiana identification card on his person.
Police say Lowder’s story changed several times during the course of the investigation, and later admitted that he tried to use the story of being a military veteran to “try to get out of the incident.” Police say he could not tell them what branch of the military in which he served.
Lowder was taken into custody and an inventory of his vehicle was conducted, the chief said. Inside, they smelled a strong odor of what they believed to be marijuana. Cutrer located suspected natural marijuana inside an ashtray in a cup holder. Also discovered was an envelope containing what appeared to be numerous fraudulent checks in the passenger seat. Approximately $400 in cash, found in the center console, was collected and logged into evidence. Several Swisher Sweets cigarillos were also found inside a cup holder.
During a search of Lowder’s person, roughly $100 in cash was found.
Lowder was placed under arrest for illegal possession of a firearm, monetary instrument abuse, possession of Schedule I CDS (natural marijuana), false impersonation of a veteran and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was booked at police headquarters and transported to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.