By Pat Culverhouse

A minor traffic violation in the early morning hours Tuesday turned into a major headache for a Minden man who now faces a variety of drug charges.

Chief of Police Jared McIver said 26-year-old Donald Wayne Sims, a Devereaux St. resident, is charged with possession of Sch. 1 (Ecstasy) with intent to distribute, Possession of Sch. IV (Xanax), possession of Sch.1 (Marijuana), possession of drug paraphernalia, and traffic counts of failure to obey a stop sign and illegal window tint.

McIver said Officer Cadyn O’Connor stopped the suspect’s vehicle near the intersection of MLK Dr. and Chrysler St. just before 2 a.m. Tuesday for a traffic offense, but became suspicious after reportedly smelling “…an overwhelming odor of burned marijuana from inside the vehicle. While questioning the suspect, Officer O’Connor observed suspected marijuana in a small plastic bag near the console,” McIver said.

After viewing the marijuana inside, McIver said Officer O’Connor searched the vehicle and discovered several items of drug paraphernalia and more suspected illegal narcotics. 

“A test kit confirmed there were two and a half, 10 milligram, Xanax pills. In addition, officers found 49 Ecstasy pills, 1.9 grams of marijuana and drug paraphernalia that included a marijuana grinder, pipe, torch and a marijuana container,” the Chief said.

Sims is currently being held at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center.