A NPSO 911 Center call from a concerned citizen on July 19 at 11:40 am reported a man holding a gun on a woman while traveling in a silver 2007 Volvo (LA License# YXL760) on the north Natchitoches Bypass.

NPSO Patrol Division deputies and Criminal Investigations Division responded to the area. They observed the vehicle sitting in the parking lot of a business near the intersection of the north Natchitoches Bypass and Hwy. 1.

As deputies identified a passenger in the vehicle as Michael J. Rachal of Natchitoches, they observed a sawed-off shotgun and a semi-automatic handgun in plain view in the vehicle. Deputies also observed a bag containing suspected methamphetamine and a glass pipe commonly used to smoke illegal narcotics in plain view.

Rachal was removed from the vehicle and placed under arrest without incident.
Rachal said he and his girlfriend, identified as Charlene Beaudion, got involved in a verbal altercation, which turned physical after Beaudion allegedly struck him in the face.
Beaudion, who was believed to be operating the vehicle, had left prior to the deputies arrival. She was located a short distance away attempting to avoid law enforcement in the business.

While attempting to interview Beaudion, she gave conflicting stories as to what happened, and appeared confused and under the influence of some type of narcotic.
A local warrants check revealed Beaudion was wanted by the NPSO for Failure to Appear in the Tenth Judicial District Court and by Natchitoches City Court.
Deputies arrested:

*Michael J. Rachal, 37, of the 600 block of Abbie Drive, Natchitoches. He was booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center and charged with Possession of CDS Schedule II Methamphetamine-2nd Offense, Aggravated Assault, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Firearm by a Person Convicted of a Felony, Illegal Carrying of Firearms During a Felony Narcotics Offense, Illegal Possession of a Sawed-Off Shotgun less than 14 inches.

*Charlene Beaudion, 31, who gave an address in the 500 block of Nid Aige Road, Cloutierville. She was booked into the NPDC and charged with Possession of CDS Schedule II Methamphetamine-2nd Offense, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Firearm by a Person convicted of a Felony, Illegal Possession of a Firearm During a Felony Narcotics Offense, Failure to Appear and Unauthorized Use of a Moveable (after the registered owner of the vehicle contacted the NPSO reporting Beaudion did not have permission to drive the vehicle).

Both Rachal and Beaudion remain in the DC awaiting bond. The vehicle was impounded by a local wrecker service. The narcotics evidence will be submitted to the crime lab for narcotics identification. Lt. M. Wilson, Deputy D. Cato, and Deputy T. Pledger were assisted by Detectives assigned to the NPSO Criminal Investigations Division in the arrests.