By Pat Culverhouse

A busted taillight helped Minden police officers bust two individuals for illegal weapon and narcotics charges after a traffic stop shortly after midnight Thursday.

Minden Chief of Police Jared McIver identified the pair as 21-year-old Springhill resident Kyron K. Garner and 22-year-old Royquez J. Shehee, a resident of the 1100 block of Syrup Mill Rd. in Minden.

Garner reportedly is charged with prohibited acts/CDS Sch. II (Hydrocodone and Percocet), possession of CDS Sch. I (marijuana), illegal carrying of a weapon in the presence of CDS and a traffic violation for broken taillight.

Charges against Shehee are prohibited acts/CDS Sch. II (Hydrocodone and Percocet), possession of CDS Sch. I (marijuana) and illegal carrying of a weapon in presence of CDS.

MPD Officer Cody James reportedly stopped the vehicle driven by Garner near the intersection of Sheppard St. and Dennis St. early Thursday and while questioning the pair, noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from inside. He also observed a firearm on the drivers’ side floorboard.

Shehee, the passenger, reportedly told Officer James another firearm was located on the floorboard at his feet. Both men were asked to exit the vehicle and the driver reportedly gave consent to a search of the vehicle.

During the search, officers reportedly found several smoked marijuana blunts and joints in the ash tray. Beneath the driver’s seat, officers located a bag containing pills identified as Hydrocodone and Percocet and a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.

On the passenger side rear floorboard, officers also found two more plastic bags containing a substance believed to be marijuana.

Both men are currently being held at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center. No bond amount has been set.

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.