By Bonnie Culverhouse
Minden Police arrested a north Webster Parish man for carrying a weapon.
Eddie Ray Rollen Jr., 20, of the 200 block of Mullen St., Cotton Valley, was charged as a felon in possession of a firearm and driving without headlights.
According to police Chief Steve Cropper, Lt. Chris Hammontree, K9 Tigo, Off. Ben Sparks and Capt. Kirk Morgan were involved in the arrest.
“Officers were dispatched to 1400 Shreveport Road in reference to a large crowd disrupting the operation of a business,” Cropper said. “While on scene, Lt. Hammontree observed a vehicle pull off Shreveport Road into the parking lot without headlights.”
The chief said Hammontree made contact with Rollen, the driver, and smelled marijuana.
“While waiting for headquarters to check warrants, Lt. Hammontree ran Rollen and found he was convicted of illegal use of a weapon in 2021,” Cropper said. “Lt. Hammontree asked Rollen if he is on probation and Rollen said yes.”
Hammontree reportedly asked Rollen if he had a weapon in the vehicle, but Rollen said he was unsure.
“When asked if officers could search the vehicle, Rollen denied the request,” Cropper said. “Lt. Hammontree used K9 Tigo to perform an open air sniff of the vehicle, and Tigo alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics in the vehicle, giving officers the opportunity to search inside.”
Hammontree reportedly discovered marijuana in the floorboard and a Taurus 9MM handgun under the driver’s seat.
“The handgun was loaded with 15 rounds,” the chief said.
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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