A traffic stop has led to the arrest of a Winn Parish man on drug and weapon charges according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.

 

NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau deputies were patrolling on US-71 south near Hwy. 1226 on June 6 around 10:27 pm when they stopped a 1999 Lincoln Town Car for a traffic violation.

 

Deputy S. Dieter, identified the operator of the vehicle as 19-year-old LeDarious L. Reliford of Hwy. 477 near St. Maurice in Winn Parish. While speaking with Reliford, they learned he had a firearm in the vehicle and smelled a strong marijuana odor. Deputies also learned Reliford did not have a drivers license and when asked he replied “he never had a drivers license.”

 

Deputies retrieved the firearm, a Diamond Back 5.56 AR-15 semi-automatic rifle loaded with 32-rounds in the magazine. A back-up unit responded to assist.

 

During a search of the vehicle, deputies discovered and seized twenty suspected MDMA ecstasy tabs.

Reliford was placed under arrest and handcuffed without incident.

 

Deputies say while transporting Reliford to the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center he was observed attempting to move around in the rear of the patrol unit, a Sheriff’s marked Tahoe. When deputies arrived at the detention center, they asked Reliford if he had any additional illegal items on his person in which he replied “no.” Deputies walked Reliford into the detention center and returned to the patrol unit, discovering one cellophane bag containing approximately 42 grams of suspected marijuana and digital weighing scales concealed in the rear seat area.

 

The seized evidence will be submitted to the crime lab for narcotics analysis and identification.

 

LeDarious L. Reliford, was booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with Possession of CDS Schedule I Ecstasy, Possession of CDS Schedule I Marijuan, Criminal Obstruction of Justice after he attempted to distort the investigation by hiding illegal narcotics in the rear of the unit, Illegal Possession of a Firearm in the Presence of Controlled Dangerous Substances, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Improper Lane Usage and No Driver’s License.

 

Deputies say Reliford allegedly admitted to smoking marijuana just prior to the traffic stop. Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force Agents are assisting in the investigation. Deputy S. Dieter was assisted by Deputy S. Kennedy in the arrest.