By Pat Culverhouse

Parking at an abandoned motel has netted an Athens man a room in the parish prison after a special Minden police officer sniffed out narcotics inside his vehicle.

Chief of Police Jared McIver said Officer Cody James spotted a vehicle backed into a space at the old Minden Motel around 5:45 a.m. Tuesday and stopped to investigate.

While questioning the driver, 33-year-old Justin Baker, the officer was told Baker was “just trying to spend time with his girlfriend,” who was a passenger.

Baker’s actions reportedly raised suspicions and the officer requested to search the vehicle, but he refused. Officer Kendale Booker and K9 Reef were called to the scene, and the K9 reportedly gave a positive alert during an open-air sniff search.

A probable cause search of the vehicle reportedly uncovered a plastic bag containing a white, crystal-like substance consistent with methamphetamines, two loaded syringes, one empty syringe and a blue plastic straw with residue.

Officers also found a glass smoking pipe beneath the passenger seat. A background check also revealed Baker was the subject of an arrest warrant issued through the Bossier City Police Dept.

Baker was transported to Bayou Dorcheat Correctional Center where he is charged with possession of CDS Sch.II (methamphetamines), possession of drug paraphernalia and on a fugitive warrant. No bond 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.

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