By Pat Culverhouse

A Christmas Eve traffic stop for suspected impaired driving has resulted in the arrests of two men on drug-related charges.

Chief of Police Jared McIver said 31-year-old Hanson McHale Taravella of Shreveport and 46-year-old Minden resident Ronny Paul Dunn are currently in Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center after officers found drugs and drug paraphernalia in their vehicle.

McIver said Taravella, the driver, is charged with possession of CDS Sch. II (Methamphetamine), possession of drug paraphernalia, improper lane usage and a tail light violation. Dunn, a passenger in the vehicle, is also charged with possession of CDS Sch. II (Methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Officers reportedly responded to a call of a suspected drunk driver and initiated a traffic stop at the intersection of Goodwill and Ash shortly before 2 a.m. Christmas Eve. McIver said Lt. Chris Hammontree observed the vehicle swerving and nearly striking a utility pole.

“We brought K9 Officer Tigo to the scene and he alerted to the presence of illegal narcotics,” McIver said. “Officers found a marijuana cigar in the driver’s pants pocket, a meth pipe with a small amount of unsmoked meth in a bag on the center console, several scales, bags of syringes and a marijuana grinder inside the vehicle.”

Sgt. Mitchell Hackett and officer Cadyn O’Conner assisted in the search and arrest, the Chief said.