A suspicious vehicle complaint led to the arrest of a Marco man wanted by the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office and seizure of illegal narcotics on Wednesday afternoon according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.

NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau deputies responded on May 31 around 1:15 pm to reports of a suspicious vehicle parked at a residence in the 3600 block of Hwy. 490 in Marco.

The suspicious vehicle parked at the residence was reportedly a small red passenger car with the doors open.

Deputies arrived on scene and made contact with a person on the property identified as Gary Lynn Mitchell, 41 of Marco.

Deputies say while speaking with Mitchell and asking him why was he at the residence-he responded that he transported a person there to pick up some items.

Deputies were unable to locate any other persons on the property or at the residence but responded to a call at the residence a week prior.  During that call, deputies informed an individual that he was barred from the property and not to return or face criminal charges for trespassing.

A warrants check revealed that Mitchell was wanted by the Rapides Parish Sheriff’s Office on an outstanding warrant for Theft.

Mitchell was arrested without incident.

The owner of the property advised that arrangements could be made by someone to pick the vehicle up instead of impounding it.

Deputies say while securing the vehicle at the request of Mitchell, they observed suspected drug paraphernalia in plain view in the vehicle.

A search of the vehicle led to the seizure of a glass smoking pipe commonly used to smoke illegal narcotics, suspected alprazolam, suspected fentanyl, suspected suboxone strips, suspected subutex, 3.5 grams of suspected methamphetamine, baggies and digital weighing scales.

Gary Lynn Mitchell, 41, of Marco was transported and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with 2-Counts of Possession of CDS Schedule II Methamphetamine and Fentanyl-2nd Offense, 2-Counts of Possession of CDS Schedule III Suboxone and Subutex, 1-Count of CDS Schedule IV Alprazolam, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Rapides Parish Fugitive on Theft warrant.

Mitchell remains in the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center awaiting bond and transfer to Rapides Parish.

Deputies say while interviewing Mitchell, he stated the illegal narcotics belonged to him.

According to the National Institute for Drug Abuse:

*Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid analgesic that is similar to morphine but is 50 to 100 times more potent. In its prescription form it is prescribed for pain, but fentanyl is also made illegally.

 

*Fentanyl and other synthetic opioids are the most common drugs involved in overdose deaths.

 

*Illegal fentanyl is sold in the following forms: as a powder, dropped on blotter paper like small candies, in eye droppers or nasal sprays, or made into pills that look like real prescription opioids.

 

*Illegal fentanyl is being mixed with other drugs, such as cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and MDMA. This is especially dangerous because people are often unaware that fentanyl has been added.

 

*Fentanyl works by binding to the body’s opioid receptors, which are found in areas of the brain that control pain and emotions. Its effects include extreme happiness, drowsiness, nausea, confusion, constipation, sedation, tolerance, addiction, respiratory depression and arrest, unconsciousness, coma, and death.

 

*The high potency of fentanyl greatly increases risk of overdose, especially if a person who uses drugs is unaware that a powder or pill contains it. They can underestimate the dose of opioids they are taking, resulting in overdose.

 

*Naloxone is a medicine that can be given to a person to reverse a fentanyl overdose. Multiple naloxone doses might be necessary because of fentanyl’s potency.

Deputies C. Haliburton, D. Young and Lt. M. Robertson made the arrest.

If you observe suspicious activity in your community contact the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office at 352-6432.  Always attempt to provide descriptions of the vehicle or person(s) involved in suspicious activity.