Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies arrested a man and woman this morning, Aug. 12, around 1 am while they were traveling from Natchitoches to the Campti area. NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau deputies were patrolling in the 1900 block of Hwy. 6 East near Natchitoches when they stopped a 2000 Ford Ranger for a traffic violation.
During the traffic stop, deputies spoke with the operator and two passengers in the vehicle. The passengers were identified as 56-year-old Ronny W. Marcella who gave a New Orleans address, and Crystal L. Matthews, 40 of St. Martinville. Matthews initially gave deputies a false name.
Deputies say Matthews appeared very uneasy, anxious and was sweating profusely leading them to believe criminal activity existed. A warrants check revealed Marcella was wanted by the Tenth Judicial District Court in Natchitoches for 2-Counts of Failure to Appear. Crystal Matthews was wanted by Lafayette Parish authorities for Failure to Appear on a prior Possession of CDS Schedule II Narcotics offense.
Both Marcella and Matthews were placed under arrest without incident. Deputies obtained permission to search the vehicle. During a search of the vehicle, deputies discovered a pill bottle containing approximately 4 grams of suspected methamphetamine and 1-gram of suspected synthetic marijuana. Marcella and Matthews both have prior narcotic arrest histories.
As a result:
*Ronny W. Marcella, was transported and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with 2-Counts of Failure to Appear in Natchitoches Parish, Possession of CDS I Synthetic Marijuana and Possession of CDS II Methamphetamine.
*Crystal Matthews, transported and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center charged with Lafayette Parish Fugitive, Resisting an Officer by give a false name, Possession of CDS I Synthetic Marijuana and Possession of CDS Schedule II Methamphetamine.
Both remain in the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center. The seized narcotics will be submitted to the crime lab for narcotics analysis. Deputies say will interviewing both suspects they indicated that the driver of the vehicle had no knowledge of them being in possession of illegal narcotics. The driver was released without criminal charges but told to be more selective when transporting passengers in their vehicle.