By Pat Culverhouse
Two Minden women are currently in custody on illegal narcotic charges and outstanding warrants following a traffic stop by city police patrol officers.
Chief of Police Jared McIver said 27-year-old Jaleshia Matkal Sims of Lanning St. was booked for possession of CDS Sch. II (methamphetamine), possession of CDS in the presence of a child under 17, no child restraint and on an outstanding fugitive warrant from the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Office.
A passenger in the vehicle Sims reportedly was driving, Akeilah Malone (no age or address given), was also taken into custody after officers learned she was subject of three active bench warrants and one arrest warrant through MPD. Malone initially gave officers a false name during questioning at the scene, McIver said.
During a traffic stop shortly after 1 p.m. Thursday, officers Ben Sparks and Jessica Thompson reportedly noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from Sims’ vehicle.
“Sims told our officers the smell inside the vehicle was due to her smoking earlier in the day,” McIver said.
During an ensuing search of the vehicle, McIver said officers found 0.8 grams of methamphetamine located beneath a child in the back seat. Sims is being held in Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center in lieu of $8,500 bond.
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.
