By Bonnie Culverhouse
A Minden man was arrested Saturday after a traffic stop for erratic driving.
Demarcus Deunta Miller, 34, of the 400 block of Woodard St., Minden, was charged with possession of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, obstruction of justice, resisting an officer, expired driver’s license and improper lane usage.
Minden Police Chief Jared McIver said Lt. Chris Hammontree initiated the stop around 11 p.m. after observing Miller’s vehicle as it struck a storm drain on the right curb, going north on Homer Road and then twice crossing out of its lane to the left.
“Miller told Lt. Hammontree his license was expired and his vehicle was hard to control because his tires were bad,” McIver said. “A male front seat passenger appeared under the influence of a mind-altering substance, and the vehicle smelled like marijuana.”
Miller reportedly told Hammontree and Ofc. Ben Sparks that he had smoked marijuana earlier and provided blunts.
“While Lt. Hammontree was checking Miller’s information, the subject tried to leave his truck, but Ofc. Sparks kept him in check,” said the chief. “That’s when they noticed Miller was shoving something between the seats. When officers asked Miller to exit the vehicle, marijuana started falling out of his pants. Apparently, he had tried to hide the marijuana and scales in his underwear.”
Miller allegedly refused all commands to enter the police unit and was forced into the vehicle. A search of Miller’s truck revealed a total of 118 grams of natural marijuana in three baggies and loose marijuana between the seats. Officers also reportedly located 4 unused plastic baggies commonly used in packaging marijuana for sale.
“Once at the police department, more marijuana fell out of Miller’s underwear,” McIver said.
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.
