By Pat Culverhouse

Minden police officers executing a search warrant on a local residence in connection with a firearm used in a separate incident involving juveniles resulted in a discovery that led to the arrest of an adult on illegal drug charges.

Chief of Police Jared McIver said 48-year-old Darien D. Mitchell, a resident of the 400 block of Plateau St., is looking at a number of charges including possession of CDS Sch. I (marijuana) with intent to distribute, possession of CDS Sch. I (Ecstasy) with intent to distribute, possession of CDS Sch. II (crack cocaine) with intent to distribute, possession of Doxepin Hydrochloride (Legend drugs) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

McIver said officers were serving a warrant in connection with a previous incident involving the theft of a firearm by a juvenile. While searching the residence, officers found the firearm plus a stash of drugs and a small amount of cash in a room reportedly occupied by the suspect.

“After administering a Miranda advisory, our investigators questioned the occupants of the residence about the drugs and Darien Mitchell admitted the narcotics were his,” McIver said. “All the substances were weighed and checked at headquarters and tested positive.”

An investigation into the theft of the firearm is continuing, the chief 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.