By Pat Culverhouse

Driving erratically in plain sight of a pair of Webster Parish deputies has landed a West Monroe man in the parish prison on something more serious than simple traffic charges.

Webster Parish Sheriff Jason Parker said Michael Kenneth Dickerson, 38, is being held for possession of CDS Sch. II (methamphetamines), possession of CDS Sch. IV (Clonazepam), possession of drug paraphernalia, reckless operation and resisting an officer.

He reportedly is booked at Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center under a $5,502 bond.

Major Bobby Igo III and Sgt. Josh McCormick reportedly were driving south on Hwy. 371 shortly after noon Tuesday when the vehicle ahead of them repeatedly crossed the center line, nearly striking oncoming vehicles.

After activating their emergency lights and siren, Dickerson’s vehicle reportedly continued without coming to a stop. Other patrol units helped bring the vehicle to a halt at the Dixie Inn city limits.

Once stopped, Dickerson, the driver, reportedly ignored commands to exit the vehicle and had to be forcibly removed.

Deputies received permission to search the vehicle and inside the center console found a pill container with crushed pink pills. A further search revealed a bag with a pill bottle containing a clear bag with white crystal substance and seven Clonazepam pills with no prescription.

Also, deputies found a suspected pipe used for smoking methamphetamines and a torch lighter beneath the driver’s seat.

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.