By Bonnie Culverhouse
A south Webster Parish woman was arrested last week by Minden Police on drug charges, following a routine traffic stop.
Madison F. Fornea, 19, of the 600 block of Bistineau Line Rd., Heflin, is charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, hydrocodone, clonazepam and drug paraphernalia.
Police Chief Steve Cropper said Fornea and a male passenger were traveling on Methodist Camp Road when OFC. Reece Tewell stopped the vehicle for an unlit license plate.
“When the officer was asking the driver – Fornea – for her identification and vehicle information, he noticed a rifle beside the passenger’s leg,” Cropper said. “Officer Tewell walked around to the passenger side of the vehicle and opened the door, removing the rifle for officer safety and placing it in his patrol unit.”
According to reports, Tewell also recognized an odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle.
“Once they were both out of the vehicle and advised of their rights, the officer asked if there was any marijuana inside the vehicle,” said the chief. “Fornea kept looking at the vehicle, hesitating and then answering no.”
Cropper said the passenger also answered no, however, Fornea told the officer she had marijuana on her person.
“Since there was not a female officer present, OFC. Tewell placed Fornea in his patrol car and asked her to remove the marijuana, which she said was in her bra,” Cropper said. “He returned to the front of his unit. She placed the baggies on the seat of the patrol car and exited.”
The officer reportedly walked back to the patrol car and observed 2 clear bags containing suspected marijuana. He was given consent to search Fornea’s vehicle where he reportedly discovered, inside Fornea’s purse, a small white container with a black design on it. Inside the container, he located a white pill, later identified as acetaminophen/hydrocodone.
“Also in the purse were a clear jar containing small pieces of suspected marijuana and 5 pink pieces of paper, which Fornea said are used for smoking marijuana,” Cropper said. “In the front passenger floorboard, the officer located a backpack and red zipper bag containing different kinds of rolling papers and a grinder. Also in the zipper bag were a scale, an open bag of cigarillos and several clear Ziploc bags.”
Sgt. Jeremy Sitter weighed the marijuana. It reportedly weighed 24.82 grams.
Cropper said Fornea was arrested and taken to MPD for processing. The male passenger reportedly said the rifle belonged to him and was a gift from his father.
“He also said he did not know Fornea had that much marijuana on her person,” said the chief. “The weapon was released to him, along with the vehicle per Fornea’s request. He was not charged.”
At the police department, Fornea was searched by a female dispatcher who found nothing else on her person.
“While examining the evidence, Sgt. Sitter observed another clear bag inside one of the bags of marijuana,” Cropper said. “Inside were 7 round yellow pills identified as Clonazepam. Fornea told the officers she sometimes trades marijuana for pills and that she forgot the small bag of pills was inside the bag of marijuana.”
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
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