By Pat Culverhouse
A footrace Monday with Minden police in 94-degree temperatures proved too hot for a local man who now faces three separate charges including one for drug distribution.
Jamaron Davon Williams, 19, a resident of the 1100 block of Young St., is charged with possession of CDS Sch. I (marijuana) with intent to distribute, resisting an officer and prohibited acts, Chief of Police Jared McIver said.
Williams currently is sitting in Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center under a total bond of $25,500.
McIver said officers responded to a complaint concerning a group of individuals near a business on East Union St. who were acting suspiciously.
“The complainant reportedly saw one of the individuals retrieve a handgun from his backpack and place it in his waistline,” McIver said. “When our officers located the individuals and stopped to question them, the suspect fled, ignoring commands to stop.”
While Lt. Chris Hammontree detained two other individuals, officers Brian Dison and Anthony Crittendon pursued Williams on foot down East Union St. for approximately 400 yards before taking him into custody.
After the arrest, officers reportedly recovered a bag containing 29 grams of marijuana plus a digital scale the suspect allegedly had tossed under a vehicle while fleeing.
Another of the individuals detained was searched for the weapon reportedly sighted by the complainant, McIver said. A 9MM handgun with a 19-shot magazine was found, without a holster, in the waistband of the individual, the chief said.
A consented search of the individual’s backpack revealed a quantity of ammunition in boxes plus a fully-loaded 31-round magazine. The firearm was seized, along with the ammunition, under state law governing negligent carrying of a concealed weapon.
McIver said the individual in possession of the weapon was of legal age to carry under Louisiana’s new conceal/carry law which took effect July 4. But, he said, both the weapon and ammunition are being held pending proof of ownership.
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.