2 drug fugitives nabbed, 1 after high-speed chase
Published 11:19 am Friday, March 4, 2016
A successful Washington Parish drug dealer roundup on Feb. 24 resulted in the arrests of 10 alleged parish drug dealers. Four other suspects sought during the roundup could not be located until recently.
According to Chief Deputy Mike Haley of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office, on Feb. 28, Washington Parish Drug Task Force detectives found Pamela Sue Duhon, 30, at her residence in Pigott’s Crossing near Bogalusa. She was arrested on the charge of distribution of illegal drugs, and remains in jail with her bond set at $75,000.
Another fugitive from the drug dealer roundup, Gary Michael Becker Jr., 34, was located and arrested Thursday after a high-speed chase through western Washington Parish, Haley said.
Detectives had received information that Becker was staying in the Bogue Chitto Heights subdivision across the river from Franklinton. After failing to locate him there, detectives learned that he was traveling with others in a white Ford Expedition on Louisiana Highway 25 approaching Franklinton.
Haley said that detectives and Louisiana Probation and Parole agents set up surveillance on the highway and observed the described vehicle being driven by Becker. Two other people were also in the vehicle.
Agents got behind the vehicle as it turned onto Louisiana Highway 10 west and turned on their emergency lights. Haley said Becker then sped away and led officers on a chase on Highway 10, Louisiana Highway 440 and Vernon School Road, reaching speeds of 80 to 90 mph.
As Becker attempted to turn onto Louisiana Highway 1056 off Vernon School Road, he lost control and the vehicle slid into a ditch on the westbound side of Highway 1056.
Haley said that officers took Becker and the two other occupants into custody. After the car’s occupants were detained, officers found a .380 semi-automatic pistol in the vehicle in close proximity to where the occupants were sitting.
Becker, a resident of Hoyt Stafford Road near Franklinton, was arrested and placed in the Washington Parish Jail and charged with distribution of heroin and felon in possession of a firearm. He remains in jail with his bond set at $100,000.
Vivian Leann McAnnally Graves, 31, a resident of Magee Street in Franklinton, was arrested and placed in the Washington Parish Jail, charged with felon in possession of a firearm.
Nicky L. Emmons, 32, also a resident of Magee Street in Franklinton, was arrested and placed in the Washington Parish Jail, charged with felon in possession of a firearm and failure to appear. As of Friday afternoon, no bond had been set for either Graves or Emmons.
Haley said that the arrests of Becker and Duhon leaves two additional fugitives from the February drug dealer roundup. Juan DeJesus Magee, 33, last known address of Anthony Road in Franklinton, is wanted on a charge of distribution of heroin. Terrell Hoffman, 33, a resident of Montgomery Street in Bogalusa, is wanted on a charge of distribution of illegal drugs.
Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal had strong words for parish drug dealers.
“The arrests of Duhon and Becker should send a message to you that we will not back down from our pursuit of drug dealers in Washington Parish,” he said. “If you continue to sell drugs, you will be arrested and placed in jail. We continue to look for Magee and Hoffman and we will find them.”
Seal also complimented the officers who made the arrests.
“Our Drug Task Force Detectives do an excellent job and I commend them for their good work,” he said. “I am grateful also for the assistance of Louisiana Probation and Parole agents. They are always available to assist us and they, too, do an excellent job.”