A routine traffic stop on May 31 resulted in the arrests of two men and the seizure of drugs and a firearm. Two Minden police officers initiated the stop on a silver Ford Fusion with an unreadable temporary license plate near the intersection of Hwy 80 and Hwy 531.
The driver, Rodney Jenkins, 52, and the front seat passenger, Samuel Elkins, 50, were identified and provided Louisiana identification cards. Jenkins admitted his driver’s license was suspended due to child support issues and produced documentation for the temporary license plate. Officers detected the odor of marijuana emanating from the vehicle.
A third officer arrived to assist. Jenkins admitted to possessing a pipe inside the driver’s door, and Elkins acknowledged having smoked a marijuana blunt earlier. Both men were frisked for weapons and their vehicle searched.
Inside the driver’s side door, officers found a glass pipe with methamphetamine residue. Under the front passenger seat, a bag containing methamphetamine was discovered. Jenkins and Elkins were handcuffed, advised of their rights, and questioned about ownership of a backpack in the car. Elkins claimed the backpack, which contained a scale, a grinder with marijuana residue, and additional drug paraphernalia.
An officer located a revolver on the passenger seat. While attempting to clear the firearm, Elkins provided instructions on removing the cylinder. The firearm contained six .22 caliber rounds. Dispatch confirmed Elkins had active warrants through Webster Parish, and no information was found for the vehicle’s temporary tag or VIN. The vehicle was towed.
Officers processed the evidence, discovering three bags of marijuana weighing 60 grams, 33 grams, and 23 grams, and another bag of methamphetamine weighing 0.5 grams. The residue in the glass pipe tested positive for methamphetamine.
Jenkins’ driver’s license was confirmed suspended due to a DUI offense and failure to pay child support. Jenkins faces charges for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, operating a vehicle while under suspension, no inspection sticker, and failure to register a motor vehicle.
Elkins faces charges for possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, and being a fugitive. Both men await bond at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.
All subjects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.