A routine patrol in Minden led to the arrest of two individuals on drug-related charges
While on patrol, an officer observed a vehicle turning right off of Weston onto Shreveport Road. The vehicle took a slow and deliberate turn. The officer pulled out behind the vehicle, and it immediately activated its turn signal, a common counter-surveillance technique used by drug traffickers. The vehicle drove for several hundred yards with its turn signal on but did not turn. It then turned off its turn signal and continued driving. The officer initiated a traffic stop on the vehicle.
The officer made contact with the driver, identified as Richard Spencer, 30, of the 700 block of Jackson Street. The officer could smell the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and recognized Spencer from prior drug arrests. Spencer admitted he had no driver’s license and became agitated. The officer took Spencer into custody for driving without a driver’s license. The front seat passenger, identified as Nicholas Jones, 35, of the 200 block of Azalea Street, was asked to exit the vehicle.
K9 Tigo performed an open air sniff of the vehicle and showed an alert for the presence of illegal narcotics. A subsequent search of the vehicle yielded a plastic baggie containing 7.72 grams of methamphetamine (later field tested positive) and a marijuana cigar wrapped up in a shirt in the passenger side floorboard. An open container of Budweiser beer was also located in the pocket on the back of the passenger seat. The officer placed Jones into handcuffs and Mirandized him. Jones maintained his innocence regarding the methamphetamine. Spencer was also Mirandized, and he claimed ownership of the beer but denied knowing about the methamphetamine.
Both subjects were transported to the Minden Police Department for booking. At the police department, Spencer convinced Jones to take the charge for the methamphetamine, and Jones attempted to claim ownership of the drugs. Spencer was booked for improper turning signals, open container, and no driver’s license. Both Spencer and Jones were booked for possession of methamphetamine. They were placed in a holding cell awaiting transfer to the Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.