By Pat Culverhouse
Three Minden residents were arrested early Wednesday on a number of drug distribution charges when officers from four law enforcement agencies conducted a coordinated raid on houses in a local neighborhood.
Minden Police Department officers and Special Response Team (SRT) members, joined by Webster Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies, probation and parole officers and DEA Drug Task Force members hit four residences on Middle Landing shortly after 9 a.m. to enforce drug related warrants.
Chief of Police Jared McIver said the arrests were the result of ongoing drug investigations in the city.
“We’ve had these individuals under surveillance for some time and we gathered enough evidence to enforce warrants,” McIver said. “We asked other agencies to assist and, as always, they said yes.”
While the MPD SRT team and other officers gained entrance to the residences, WPSO drone operators maintained overhead surveillance in case suspects attempted to flee arrest.
“We were glad to give support with our drones. It gave us the opportunity to gain more experience operating the craft in real-time situations,” Sheriff Jason Parker said. “Our office is always ready to assist when we’re needed.”
According to McIver, the individuals arrested and charges are:
• Deanne Clark, 56, who resides in the 100 block of Middle Landing. She is charged on warrants for two counts of distribution of CDS Sch. I (natural marijuana), possession of CDS Sch. II (Methamphetamine) which was discovered during a search of her residence and possession of drug paraphernalia. She is being held on $10,000 bond on each marijuana distribution count.
• Rodney Jenkins, 52, of the 100 block of North Middle Landing. He was arrested on a warrant for distribution of CDS Sch. II (Methamphetamine) and is being held on a $20,000 bond.
• Anthony Malone, 46, a resident of the 1100 block of Shreveport Rd. Malone was arrested by Ward 1 Marshal Dan Weaver on a warrant for distribution of CDS Sch. I (synthetic marijuana), and is facing a $10,000 bond.
“We want to thank the agencies who went with us today,” McIver said. “These arrests show how effective law enforcement can be when we combine our efforts.”
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.
