By Bonnie Culverhouse

Minden Police Chief Jared McIver says another drug arrest is helping to prove that it pays off having officers in a specific district.

Jakoren Daentez Jones, 28, of the 600 block of Goodwill St., Minden, was arrested just after midnight Sunday and charged with possession of marijuana, Ecstasy and drug paraphernalia, as well as running a stop sign, driving left of center and improper lane usage.

“Off. Ben Sparks was patrolling in the area of Carolina and East streets, when he observed a silver Ford Fusion run the stop sign at Pershing and East,” McIver said. “While the officer was following, the vehicle struggled to maintain its lane and violated the left of center.”

According to the report, Off. Sparks conducted a traffic stop at East Street and Martin Luther King Drive. As Off. Sparks approached the car, he reportedly smelled the presence of natural marijuana. The chief said Jones did not have a driver’s license nor required documents, and he stated there were no weapons or illegal substances in the vehicle.

“Sgt. Jason Smith arrived and Sparks asked Jones to exit the vehicle and for consent to search the car,” said the chief. “When he did, Jones admitted he had 2 ounces of natural marijuana under the driver’s side seat. The officer also located 1 digital scale with marijuana residue on its surface, 16 sandwich bags but no other contraband.

While the officers escorted Jones to the police department, he allegedly admitted there were pills contained in his underwear. The chief said there were 5 suspected Ecstasy tablets.

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.