A traffic stop led to the arrest of a Campti man on felony drug and weapon charges that resulted in the seizure of illegal narcotics and a firearm according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.

 

NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau deputies were patrolling on June 7 around 1:42 pm on US-71 near Campti when they stopped a 1997 Ford pickup truck for a traffic violation. Deputies identified the operator of the vehicle as 42-year-old Thomas D. Moore of Campti. Deputies say upon coming in contact with Moore they smelled a strong marijuana smoke odor that led them to believe criminal activity existed.

 

A sheriff’s deputy asked Moore to exit the vehicle but he refused.

 

The deputy then asked Moore at least 19 times to exit the vehicle and he continued to refuse. The deputy then gained access to the interior of the vehicle applying a wrist gaining compliance technique to have Moore exit the vehicle. A brief struggle continued until Moore was taken into custody and handcuffed without injury.

 

Deputies say after Moore began to comply he informed them that he was a convicted felon and had a firearm in the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, deputies seized a Taurus 9mm semi-automatic handgun, approximately 8 grams of suspected methamphetamine, and 4 grams of suspected marijuana.

 

As a result:

Thomas D. Moore, 42, of Campti was transported and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with 1-Count of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Convicted of a Felony, 1-Count of Possession of CDS Schedule II Methamphetamine, 1-Count of Possession of CDS Schedule I Marijuana, 1-Count of Illegal Possession of a Firearm in the Presence of Controlled Dangerous Substances, and 1-Count of Resisting an Officer.

 

Moore remains in the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center. The seized narcotics evidence will be turned over to the Northwest La Crime Lab for narcotics analysis and identification.

 

Natchitoches Multi-jurisdictional Drug Task Force Agents are assisting in the investigation. Deputy A. Middleton made the arrest.