Minden Police stopped Cody Michael Ray Studdard, 26, of the 11,000 block of Highway 80 in Dixie Inn, around 8:20 p.m., Saturday, on Shreveport Road at the railroad tracks for the traffic violation. Police Chief Steve Cropper says Officer Brandon Coker made contact with the driver, identified as Studdard, and he appeared to be acting nervous.
“Officer Coker asked if there was anything illegal in the vehicle, and the driver stated ‘No,’ but denied consent to search,” he said.
Coker then contacted Officer First Class Clint Smith and his K-9 partner Harley. Smith and Harley arrived on scene, and Cropper says upon an open air sniff, Harley alerted on the driver’s side of the vehicle.
“That gave probable cause to search the vehicle,” the chief said.
The search revealed a pipe with suspected methamphetamine residue inside underneath the driver’s seat. Also discovered in the vehicle was a 12 gauge sawed off shotgun, the chief said, located in a compartment behind the passenger’s seat.
Studdard was a convicted felon on probation, Cropper says, and when questioned, Studdard reportedly told officers he knew the gun was inside the vehicle but did not claim ownership.
Studdard was cited for obstruction of driver’s view and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, illegal carrying of weapons with a controlled dangerous substance, possession of schedule II controlled dangerous substance and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
The suspect was transported to police headquarters and later transferred to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.
