By Bonnie Culverhouse
Hanging around a park after hours can land perpetrators in jail.
Roytavious Keshun Drake, 18, of Homer, was arrested Sept. 8 by Webster Parish Sheriff’s Deputy Josh McCormick with the aid of Minden Police Off. Chris Cayer.
Drake is charged with possession of a stolen firearm, possession of Marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm with a controlled dangerous substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.
According to Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker, Dep. McCormick discovered a blue Hyundai at Hinton Park around 1 a.m. on the above date. Closing time for the park is 10 p.m., he said.
“The deputy shined his spotlight into the windows of the car and observed a black female climbing from the backseat into the driver’s seat,” Parker said. “The deputy saw a black male in the backseat of the car. He identified himself as Drake.”
Parker said the deputy smelled the odor of Marijuana coming from the vehicle and saw a suspected Marijuana “Roach” in the door pocket.
“Roytavious and the female insisted there was no Marijuana in the car, saying they had smoked it earlier,” said the sheriff.
“Drake seemed extremely nervous to Dep. McCormick. He was shaking and kept trying to reach into his jacket.”
According to reports, Dep. McCormick called for a Minden Police unit, and Off. Chris Cayer arrived shortly thereafter.
“Due to the odor of Marijuana and Drake’s movements, the two ordered Drake to exit the car,” Parker said. “In doing so,
Drake reached again into his jacket, grabbed a Glock handgun and threw it on the floorboard of the vehicle.”
Once Drake was handcuffed and mirandized, Off. Cayer reportedly secured the firearm – a 9MM that was reported stolen in NCIC (National Crime Information Center).
“The officer also located a glass jar with a large amount of suspected Marijana on the back floorboard,” said the sheriff. “It was packaged into several small baggies. There was also a digital scale.”
Drake reportedly refused to answer any questions about the gun or suspected Marijuana. He was placed under arrest and transported to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.
