Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies arrested a north Natchitoches Parish during a traffic stop near Campti on Friday evening according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies.

On Friday evening March 13 at approximately 9:45pm, Deputies assigned to the NPSO Patrol Division were patrolling on La. Hwy 9 north of Campti when they observed an older red Jeep reportedly involved in the theft of a license plate off a vehicle in the parking lot of Natchitoches Regional Medical Center in Natchitoches.

Deputies stopped the vehicle on La. Hwy 9.

Deputies identified the operator of the 1993 Jeep as 45-year-old Sammy Smith of Campti, La.

Deputies learned during the traffic stop, that Smith’s driver’s license was suspended and the license plate sticker had been stolen off a vehicle in Natchitoches.

Sammy Smith, 45, of La. Hwy 486, Campti was placed under arrest, transported and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with Illegal Possession of Stolen Things (License Plate), Driving under Suspension, No Registration and other traffic offenses.

Smith also has a parole hold placed on him by the La. Department of Probation & Parole-Natchitoches Office.

Smith remains in the Natchitoches Detention Center.

The vehicle was impounded by a local wrecker service.

Deputy D. Pleasant was assisted by Lt. B. Powell and Reserve Deputy R. Griffith.