Merritt
A Minden man walking in the middle of the street found himself in handcuffs after police found items on him that did not belong to him.
Daniel Merritt, 19, of the 100 block of Milton Drive, was arrested Tuesday, June 2, and charged with theft, illegal possession of stolen things, forgery and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bond was set at $13,700.
Minden Police Chief Steve Cropper says Officer First Class Clint Smith and Officer Jamie Franklin were running routine patrol, and when on Landing Street, they observed a male walking down the middle of the street.
“It kind of threw a red flag up for the officers, so they made contact with him,” he said. “They asked him who he was and asked him for identification. He (Merritt) indicated he didn’t have any identification.”
Officers then asked for permission to search his person for identification, Cropper says, at which time he gave consent. At that time, the officers pulled Merritt’s wallet out, and when the wallet was opened, they found a debit card in someone else’s name and two checks.
“One of those checks were made out to and signed by Mr. Merritt,” the chief said. “Neither the checks nor the debit card belonged to him. At that point in time, they asked him questions about the debit card and he admitted he’d stolen both.”
Cropper clarified Merritt made the check out to himself and allegedly forged the check owner’s name to it.
He was placed under arrest, and during a more complete search, Cropper says they located some drug paraphernalia and a
baggie with suspected methamphetamine residue.
Officer Brandon Curry assisted officers when they made contact with Merritt. Captains Dan Weaver and Marvin Garrett questioned him, Cropper says. Weaver and Garrett also made contact with the owner of the debit card and the checks. Both were returned to its rightful owner.
He was booked at the Minden Police Department and transported to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.