Saturday morning, a Webster Parish Sheriff’s Deputy on patrol was contacted by a DEA agent to be on the lookout for a blue Nissan car traveling east on I-20, with the vehicle in question said to be “carrying a large amount of drugs.”
Later the blue Nissan passed the deputy who was sitting at Exit 38. They started tailing the vehicle and saw the vehicle drive too close behind a tractor trailer, and initiated a traffic stop. The driver of the vehicle was James Pittman Jr., 40, with passenger Jeffery Southern, 50.
“Upon contact with the driver, above subject, stated he had no driver’s license or ID,” the booking report stated. “While I was standing at the driver side of the vehicle, I could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from the inside of the vehicle.”
It was found that Pittman had a warrant out for his arrest with the WPSO. As the deputy had Pittman exit the vehicle to check him for weapons, the passenger Southern got into the driver’s seat and sped off.
Another Deputy and DEA agents from the Monroe Post of Duty, Ruston Satellite Office chased after the vehicle.
“Said vehicle speed was over 100 mph. Vehicle passed cars by driving on the east bound shoulder. Vehicle merged to Exit 52 still at a high rate of speed. The vehicle never slowed at the stop sign and crossed over Highway 531 without regard to traffic. DEA Agents got the Vehicle stopped at Stucky Road and Holomon Cemetery Road,” the booking report stated.
During the search of the vehicle, DEA agents recovered 6.7 grams of mariuana, 3.5 grams of suspected meth, and other drug paraphernalia, but the large amount of drugs, a suspected 1.5 kilograms (3.3 pounds) , was nowhere to be found.
Tracing back along the path that Southern had taken fleeing from law enforcement, DEA agents were able to recover the 1.5 kgs of methamphetamine around the 51 mile marker.
Pittman Jr. was transported to BDCC and booked on the charges of possession of a schedule I substance, possession of a schedule II substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia. Southern was transported to the BDCC and booked on the charges of aggravated flight from an officer, no driver’s license, possession of a schedule II substance with intent to distribute, simple possession of a schedule II substance, possession of a schedule I substance, and possession of drug paraphernalia.