By Bonnie Culverhouse
Webster Parish Sheriff’s deputies arrested a Ringgold man last week on drug charges after he was observed making a traffic violation.
Jacob Winiarski and Josh McCormick arrested Jimmy W. Casey Jr., 44, after he attempted to turn into a parking lot at the intersection of U.S. Hwy. 80 and 371 where there was no driveway.
Sheriff Jason Parker said the driver, identified as Caskey performed a U-turn before finally pulling into a parking lot of a Dixie Inn liquor store.
“When they engaged emergency lights, the deputy observed the driver and passenger swap seats,” said the sheriff. “Deputies got consent to search the vehicle from a female passenger who was observed changing seats with Caskey. Caskey claimed there was nothing illegal in the vehicle.”
When deputies searched the vehicle, they reportedly discovered a small black zipper bag under the passenger seat. The bag reportedly contained a white crystal substance suspected to be methamphetamine wrapped in rolling paper and inside a plastic bag tear off.
“Additionally, inside the bag, deputies located Suboxone sublingual strips concealed in a debit card pouch next to a debit card with Caskey’s name on it,” Parker said. “When deputies confronted Caskey about the narcotics, he denied ownership but then eventually said he has a prescription for Suboxone that he does not keep on his person.
“Caskey not only denied the illegal narcotics were his, he said he did not know how his debit card got into the black zipper bag,” the sheriff continued.
Caskey was charged with possession of methamphetamine, Suboxone, synthetic marijuana, driving under suspension, improper lane usage and a fugitive from Bienville Parish Sheriff’s Office.
He was transported to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center for booking.
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.
