SIBLEY — Webster Parish authorities arrested a driver and his passengers after the vehicle reportedly nearly ran a sheriff’s deputy off the road.
A traffic stop was conducted at the intersection of Highway 371 and Saltworks Road in Sibley, Saturday, May 21, when Sheriff’s Deputy Marshall Merritt pulled over a vehicle for crossing the fog line more than once, crossing into his lane and nearly running him off the road.
He made contact with the driver, identified as Carl Lamar Byrd, aka “Baby C,” 23, of the 2600 block of Roosevelt Avenue in Vicksburg, Miss., Merritt says he could smell the odor of what he believed to be alcoholic beverages coming
from his person and his breath.
According to reports, Byrd was asked to exit the vehicle and during a pat down for officer’s safety, a small “roach” containing suspected marijuana was located in his right pants pocket. Merritt then conducted a field sobriety test on Byrd, to which he performed poorly, reports indicate. He was then placed under arrest and taken to the sheriff’s office where he failed to provide a proper sample for the Intoxilyzer 5000.
He was then transported to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center for booking. During questioning, Byrd reportedly admitted that he is a felon and he knew the passengers
possessed firearms.
Byrd was arrested for the offenses of driving while intoxicated, careless operation, speeding, possession of Schedule I CDS and illegal carrying of weapons.
One of the passengers, identified as Russell Brown, 30, of the 6800 block of Bethany Street in Shreveport, admitted one of the Glock pistols inside the vehicle belonged to him. According to reports, Brown also admitted to having a Lortab pill and Ecstasy in his pants pocket. The pill and reported Ecstasy were recovered and collected for evidence. The pistol was recovered from the glove compartment of the vehicle.
Brown also had active warrants through the Shreveport Police Department and was arrested for the offenses of possession of Schedule I CDS, possession of Schedule II CDS and illegal carrying of weapons.
A third passenger in the vehicle, Seandre Howard White, 27, of the 600 block of Belva Drive in Vicksburg, was arrested for possession of Schedule I with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia and illegal carrying of weapons.
Merritt says during the search of the vehicle, several baggies of a green, leafy substance believed to be marijuana were also discovered. According to reports, White admitted the baggies belong to him, along with several packages of cigars and shells from cigars believed to be used to roll marijuana. During questioning, White reportedly told the deputy a Glock pistol was located underneath his seat. This second pistol was located and secured into evidence.
He, too, was transported to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.