According to a Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force Official, on July 29, 2015 at approximately 1344 hours, Natchitoches Police Department Chief of Police Micky Dove and Lieutenant Richard Robertson responded to a Loud Music Violation that was occurring at a carwash adjacent to the Natchitoches Police Department’s Main Office. Upon making contact with a group of subjects, both officers observed that the violation was coming from a maroon 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe. Both officers made contact with a subject, later identified as Kenneth Dewayne Hardy and attempted to inform him of the violation. Hardy, despite being given lawful commands to stop, entered the vehicle and drove out of the parking lot at a high rate of speed almost striking oncoming traffic. Both officers attempted to stop the vehicle that continued travelling at a high rate of speed and disregarding traffic controls.
Officers notified NPD Communications and other law enforcement via radio that they were in pursuit of the vehicle. Several units from the Traffic and Patrol Divisions and Investigation Divisions of the Natchitoches Police Department, Natchitoches Parish Sheriffs Office and Northwestern State University Police assisted in the pursuit. The pursuit lasted approximately eight minutes and ended when Hardy entered a gated residential area and crashed his vehicle into an unoccupied parked vehicle and guard rail. Hardy fled from the vehicle on foot carrying a brown bag and was caught by officers in a wooded area behind a local business on Texas St.
At the time of Hardy’s arrest, officers located two bundles of US currency that totaled $3,949.00 on Hardy’s person. During the foot pursuit several officers, investigators, and agents observed Hardy discard the brown bag he had fled from the vehicle with. The bag was secured and a search of the bag resulted in the recovery of a digital scale, a loaded .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun, and approximately ½ pound of suspected high grade marijuana. Agents conducted a search of the wrecked vehicle that Hardy had been driving and located an additional 57 cellophane bags of suspected high grade marijuana weighing approximately 3.6 pounds along with digital scales and cellophane bags commonly used to package illicit narcotics for sale. All items were recovered by NMJDTF agents and Hardy was transported to the Natchitoches Police Department for booking. The accident was investigated by the Natchitoches Police Department’s Motor Division.
A criminal background check resulted in law enforcement discovering Hardy was being sought on two warrants out of Texas and one agency wished to extradite him. The Natchitoches Parish Sheriffs Office also had an outstanding warrant on Hardy for Failure to Appear for Simple Escape.
As a result of the traffic stop and subsequent investigation the individual was booked on the following charges:
Kenneth Dewayne Hardy, 25, of Natchitoches, LA
R.S. 14:95.1 Possession of Firearm or Carrying Concealed Weapon by a Person
Convicted of Certain Felonies
R.S. 14:108.1 Aggravated Flight from an Officer
R.S. 14:130.1 Obstruction of Justice
R.S. 14:108 Resisting an Officer
14:95E Illegal Possession of Weapon while in Possessing CDS
R.S. 40:982 Second or Subsequent Offense
R.S. 40:1023 Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
NPSO Warrant for Simple Escape/Aggravated. Escape
2 Outstanding Texas Warrants for Parole Violation & Criminal Trespass
Hardy was placed in the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center with a hold for outstanding warrants.On August 3, 2015, Agents of the Task Force arrested Hardy on warrants that had been obtained by agents in connection to an investigation occurring at 854 Dixie St on April 21, 2015 that stemmed from a report of a Simple Battery that had been by received by officers with the Natchitoches Police Department. During this investigation agents of the NMJDTF recovered approximately 1 pound of suspected marijuana, various drug paraphernalia, and a .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun. Hardy was booked on the following additional charges:
R.S. 40:966A Criminal Conspiracy to Commit Distribution of CDS Schedule I
R.S. 40: 966A Possession of CDS Schedule I (Marijuana) with Intent to Distribute (2 Counts)
R.S. 14:95.1 Possession of Firearm or Carrying Concealed Weapon by a Person Convicted of Certain Felonies
14:95E Illegal Possession of Weapon while in Presence of CDS
R.S. 40:1023 Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Chief Dove expressed his appreciation to all participating law enforcement officers that assisted in capture of the fleeing suspect and thanked the Citizens of Natchitoches for their cooperation.
The Natchitoches Multijurisdictional Drug Task Force consists of members from the Natchitoches Police Department and the Natchitoches Sheriff’s Office. You can report drug activity anonymously by calling 318-357-2248.