An Athens man was arrested on drug charges after a Minden Police Department K-9 reportedly alerted on a pickup parked at an abandoned motel during the early morning hours.
According to a police report, an officer was patrolling Shreveport Road near the Minden Motel at approximately 4 AM when he noticed a green Chevrolet pickup backed into the property. The motel was described in the report as abandoned and located in a high-crime area.
The pickup was occupied by a man in the driver’s seat and a woman in the passenger seat. As the officer approached, the driver reportedly exited the vehicle and said the two were there to spend time together.
The driver identified himself as Justin Baker, 33, of Athens, and told police he did not have identification with him.
According to the report, Baker appeared nervous and agitated while speaking with the officer. He was advised of his Miranda rights and asked whether there was anything illegal inside the pickup. Baker reportedly said there was not and declined to give police consent to search the vehicle.
Another officer and Minden Police K-9 Reef were called to the scene. Reef conducted an open-air sniff around the pickup and reportedly gave a positive alert at the driver’s-side door.
Police then searched the vehicle and reportedly found a black sunglasses case on the driver’s-side dashboard containing a plastic bag with a white, crystal-like substance consistent in appearance with methamphetamine.
Officers also reportedly found two loaded syringes, an empty syringe, and a blue plastic straw containing residue. A glass smoking pipe was found underneath the passenger seat, according to the report.
Baker was arrested on charges of possession of Schedule II methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was also held as a fugitive on an outstanding warrant from the Bossier City Police Department.
All subjects are considered innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.