TRAFFIC STOP – DRUG LAW VIOLATIONS
TRAFFIC STOP – DRUG LAW VIOLATIONS – SAMUEL SIMS, JR.
PAINCOURTVILLE – Assumption Parish Sheriff Leland Falcon reports the arrest of Samuel Sims, Jr., 39, of 2715 West Main Street, Gray, LA, on multiple felony drug and gun law violations arising from a traffic incident late Saturday evening near Paincourtville, LA.
A uniformed patrol officer observed a vehicle traveling at a slow rate of speed. The deputy contacted communications to run the license plate of the vehicle to identify the driver. In the meantime, the vehicle turned down a private drive and turned off all vehicle lighting. The vehicle was registered to the Houma area. The deputy momentarily loss site of the vehicle. Moments later, the vehicle came back up the private driveway at a high rate of speed. The deputy was able to stop the vehicle and made contact with the driver who improperly identified himself.
The deputy noted a pungent odor of suspected marijuana emitting from the vehicle. Furthermore, the deputy observed driver actions which were consistent with illegal activity. Out of concern, the deputy decided to conduct a pat down of the driver for safety considerations. As the deputy attempted to pat the driver down, a struggle ensued. The deputy felt what he thought was a small frame handgun in the driver’s pocket. The deputy was able to take the suspect into custody and did recover a handgun from the suspect’s pocket.
The deputy requested the presence of a K-9 unit. The K-9 conducted an open-air sniff of the suspect vehicle and alerted positive for the presence of illegal drugs. A subsequent search of the vehicle resulted in the seizure of a substantial amount of illegal drugs including methamphetamine, cocaine, marijuana, a second handgun and a quantity of U.S. currency. It was determined that Samuel Sims, Jr. was a prior convicted felon.
Samuel Sims, Jr. was booked into the Assumption Parish Detention Center on charges of:
*Possession of Cocaine with Intent to Distribute
*Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Distribute
*Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Distribute
*Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
*Illegal Carrying of Weapons in the Presence of Controlled Dangerous Substances
*Illegal Carrying of Weapons
*Resisting an Officer with Force or Violence
*Resisting an Officer
*Obstruction of Justice
*Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
*Driving Under a Suspended Driver’s License
*Criminal Trespass
*Fugitive – Terrebonne Parish
*Fugitive – Lafourche Parish
Samuel Sims, Jr. remains incarcerated pending a bond hearing.
For additional information concerning this News Release, contact Sheriff Leland Falcon or Public Information Officer, Lonny Cavalier at (985) 498-9353 or (985) 369-7281.
