By Pat Culverhouse

Failing to signal a turn has turned into a stay at the parish prison for a Minden man after Minden police officers discovered illegal narcotics he reportedly tossed from his vehicle.

Leon Jackson Jr., 60, a resident of the 700 block Moore St., Minden was arrested Friday for possession of CDS Sch. II (crack cocaine) and possession of drug paraphernalia in addition to obstruction of justice, violation of open container, a traffic violation and as a fugitive from WPSO.

Chief of Police Jared McIver said Jackson reportedly was pulled over for a traffic violation and Sgt. Benjamin Sparks noticed an open container of alcoholic beverage in his vehicle’s console.

Jackson reportedly told the officer the beverage had been in the vehicle at least one day, but Sgt. Sparks discovered the beer can was cold to the touch. During a consequent search of the vehicle, the officer reportedly found a pipe of the type commonly used to smoke crack cocaine.

Jackson reportedly began struggling with another officer who had arrived to assist, and during the altercation he allegedly unsuccessfully attempted to discard approximately 0.5 grams of crack cocaine in woods near the patrol units.

He is being held at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center where his bond has been set at $6,250.

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.