A short vehicle pursuit has led to the arrest of a Natchitoches man on felony drug charges that resulted in the seizure of suspected ecstasy and marijuana on Tuesday evening according to the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office.
On Tuesday evening May 26 at approximately 11:30pm, Deputies assigned to the NPSO Special Task Impact Patrol Unit attempted to stop a 2002 GMC Yukon on La. Hwy 3175 (North Natchitoches Bypass) for a traffic violation.
The operator of the vehicle failed to stop leading deputies along the North Natchitoches Bypass on a short pursuit before losing control, leaving the road and coming to a rest in a ditch.
Deputies identified the operator of the vehicle as 26-year-old Richard J. Stampley III of Natchitoches.
Deputies arrested Stampley without incident.
Upon coming in contact with Stampley, deputies smelled a strong marijuana odor.
Stampley is on parole due to prior felony convictions in Natchitoches Parish.
During a search of the vehicle, deputies seized a bag containing suspected marijuana, a partially burned marijuana blunt and another package containing 109 suspected ecstasy tablets.
The seized narcotics have a potential street value of approximately $1100.00 dollars.
Several drug arrests recently have resulted in the seizure of suspected ecstasy according to Sheriff-elect Stuart Wright.
Ecstasy (MDMA) is a synthetic, psychoactive drug chemically similar to the stimulant methamphetamine and the hallucinogen mescaline.
Richard J. Stampley III, 26, of the 100 block of Mary Drive, Natchitoches was transported and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with Possession of CDS I Ecstasy with Intent to Distribute, Possession of CDS Schedule I Marijuana-2nd or Subsequent Offenses, Resisting an Officer by Flight, Reckless Operation of a Vehicle, Parole Violation and traffic offenses.
Deputies believe the seized narcotics was intended for distribution in the Natchitoches area.
Natchitoches Multi-jurisdictional Drug Task Force Agents assisted in the investigation following the arrest.
Stampley remains in the Natchitoches Detention Center.
The seized evidence will be submitted to the crime lab for narcotics analysis.
Sheriff Jones stated we are pleased to take some of these illegal narcotics off the streets and out of our communities before it may reach the hands of some of our young adults and potentially harm someone.”
