Deputies identified the driver as Chase Sculthorpe, 42 of Lawton, Oklahoma. Upon making contact with Sculthorpe, deputies detected the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. For officer safety, deputies asked if there were any weapons inside the vehicle. Sculthorpe informed deputies that he had a firearm near the center console.

 

Deputies recovered a Ruger 9mm semi-automatic handgun from the vehicle. A National Crime Information Center (NCIC) check revealed that Sculthorpe had a prior felony conviction for Possession of CDS Schedule II narcotics in July 2024, prohibiting him from legally possessing a firearm.

 

The NCIC database is a critical nationwide law enforcement tool that provides officers with real-time access to criminal histories, warrants, and other vital records, allowing deputies to quickly verify a subject’s background and ensure appropriate enforcement actions are taken.

 

A probable cause search of the vehicle also resulted in the discovery and seizure of suspected drug paraphernalia.

 

Sculthorpe was placed under arrest and transported to the LaSalle Corrections/Natchitoches Detention Center, where he was booked on charges of Possession of a Firearm by a Person Convicted of a Felony, along with traffic-related offenses.

 

When questioned about the firearm, Sculthorpe told deputies he had purchased it “off the streets.”

The NPSO IMPACT Team is a proactive enforcement unit comprised of deputies from the Criminal Investigations Bureau, Patrol Operations, and the Drug Enforcement Unit. The team focuses on targeting gun violence, illegal narcotics activity, traffic violations, thefts, and the removal of illegal firearms from communities.

 

If you suspect criminal activity in your community, contact the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office at 318-357-7851. Always provide descriptions of the vehicle or persons involved in suspicious activity, as even small details can assist deputies in keeping our communities safe.