Alleged drug dealer arrested after traffic stop
Published 10:58 am Friday, May 6, 2016
Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force detectives arrested a Franklinton man on drug-dealing charges Thursday, following a routine traffic stop in the town.
WPSO Chief Deputy Mike Haley said that Rodney McCullen, 42, of T.W. Barker Drive, was taken into custody after a traffic stop of a vehicle on 15th Street in which McCullen was a passenger.
Rodney McCullen
McCullen, who is on probation from previous offenses, was arrested and booked into the Washington Parish Jail and then transported to another corrections facility for housing. He is being held without bond at this time.
Haley said McCullen was charged with a variety of offenses, including convicted felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a controlled dangerous substance with a weapon present, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of Schedule I drugs, possession of Schedule II drugs, possession of Schedule III drugs, failure to appear — felony, and failure to appear — misdemeanor.
Haley said that the owner and driver of the vehicle granted permission for a vehicle search. During the search of the vehicle, a Drug Task Force detective discovered a bag that McCullen admitted was his. Haley said that inside the bag was a container containing two marijuana pipes loaded with marijuana, rolling papers, a digital scale, a pill grinder with residue and other drug paraphernalia.
The search also discovered a Crown Royal bag at McCullen’s feet, Haley said. The bag contained one .380 caliber pistol and one .22 caliber pistol, both of which belonged to McCullen. When McCullen was searched, he was reportedly wearing a necklace that held two stainless steel pill bottles. One bottle contained a quantity of Xanax pills and the other contained crack cocaine.
Sheriff Randy Seal congratulated his DTF officers on the arrest.
“Our Drug Task Force is to be commended for getting this drug dealer off of the streets of Franklinton,” he said. “Our narcotics detectives work throughout the parish, including the town of Franklinton and the city of Bogalusa. They do a great job and Washington Parish is fortunate to have them protecting each of us day and night.”