A suspicious vehicle and person call on Dec. 2 led to the arrest of a Provencal man on felony drug and resisting arrest charges according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.
The investigation began on Monday evening, around 6:27 pm, when Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies and Provencal Police were dispatched by NATCOM 911 Center to a reported suspicious person and vehicle in the 4200 block of North Blvd in Provencal.
The suspicious person was reportedly driving a gold-colored Ford Crown Victoria or Mercury Marquis.
Provencal Police arrived within 4 minutes of the initial call observing the reported vehicle. According to reports and witnesses, Provencal Police Chief Eric Upchurch made contact with the driver of the vehicle later identified as 57-year-old Kenneth D. Lee of Provencal. While speaking with Lee, Chief Upchurch requested his driver’s license, observing a flat tire on the vehicle.
Lee attempted to flee in the vehicle almost pinning Upchurch against his patrol unit but stopped a short distance away. Chief Upchurch then advised Lee to exit the vehicle in which he refused.
NPSO Units were still responding to the scene.
Chief Upchurch then utilized the minimum amount of police restraint tactics to remove Lee from the vehicle, however, he continued to struggle and resist arrest. A private nearby citizen assisted Chief Upchurch in properly restraining Lee in handcuffs. During a search of Lee’s person incidental to the arrest, a glass smoking pipe containing suspected methamphetamine was discovered on his person.
As a result:
Kenneth D. Lee, was transported by NPSO Deputies to LaSalle Corrections Center in Natchitoches, and booked, charged with Resisting an Officer, Aggravated Assault on a Peace Officer, Possession of CDS II Methamphetamine-2nd Offense and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Lee was convicted of a Possession of CDS II Narcotics Offense in 2017.
The seized evidence will be submitted to the crime lab for narcotics analysis. The vehicle was impounded by a local wrecker service.
Deputies assisting Provencal Police were a private citizen, Deputy Sgt. D. Caballero and Deputy B. Hamilton.
The Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office would like to extend our thanks and appreciation to the private citizen that assisted Chief Upchurch during this law enforcement encounter that led to an arrest.
There were no injuries.
Deputies continued to ask the public that if you observe suspicious activity in your community, to please contact the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-352-6432 or 357-7851. You may remain anonymous. Please attempt to provide accurate descriptions of the vehicle(s) or person(s) involved in the activity when calling your information in to NPSO Dispatch or NATCOM 911 Center.
