By Bonnie Culverhouse
A routine traffic stop led to the arrest of a Springhill man on drug and weapons charges.
Semja J. Prather, 24, of the 400 block of 7th St., S.E., was arrested Monday by Springhill Police. He is charged with possession of cocaine with intent to distribute, methamphetamine with intent, marijuana, a dangerous weapon in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance and resisting by flight.
Police Chief Will Lynd said officers conducted a traffic stop for a moving violation Monday around 9:40 p.m.
“When the vehicle came to a stop, the front right passenger door opened,” Lynd said. “Prather fled the vehicle with a small black bag. The officer pursued on foot toward 3rd St. SE while giving loud verbal commands to stop multiple times.”
Prather reportedly tripped into a ditch and the officer was able to safely make the arrest.
“Once he was handcuffed, Prather began reaching for the small black bag, though he was already handcuffed,” said the chief. “While walking back to the patrol unit, the suspect kept saying he had drugs and asked if the officer could let him go.”
A search of Prather’s pockets reportedly revealed 2 medium sized plastic bags filled with a white powdery substance suspected to be cocaine. Total weight was 7.1 grams. Reports also claimed there were 2 medium sized plastic bags filled with multicolored pills suspected to be ecstasy – a total of 4.0 grams.
“The black bag contained 2 medium sized bags filled with a green leafy substance suspected to be marijuana with a total weight of 7.2 grams,” Lynd said. “There was a black Glock 9mm pistol with a round loaded in the chamber.”
Prather was booked into the Springhill City Jail and later transported to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named 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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