A traffic stop last week landed a Minden man in the parish jail on more serious charges after a city police officer used his sense of smell to uncover alleged illegal narcotics in the suspect’s vehicle and on his person.
Chief of police Steve Cropper said patrol officer Russell Engi noticed the odor of suspected marijuana after he stopped a vehicle for a traffic violation and questioned the driver, 43-year-old Antonio Island Jr. of Buddy Brown Road in Minden.
“While the suspect was standing and speaking with patrolman Engi, the officer detected an odor of marijuana coming from his person,” Cropper said. “Shortly afterward, officer Engi walked past the vehicle’s open door and detected a strong odor of burned marijuana coming from inside.”
After receiving consent to search the vehicle, Cropper said a partially smoked marijuana cigarette was found in the center console ashtray. A search of the suspect revealed a large pill bottle containing a green leafy substance suspected to be marijuana and a substance believed to be crack cocaine, the chief said.
“During the booking process, the suspect admitted the suspected marijuana and crack cocaine were his,” Cropper said.
Island was charged with possession of CDS Sch. I (marijuana), possession of CDS Sch. II (crack cocaine) and possession of CDS in a drug free zone.