Drugs, weapons, frozen alligator found in Angie home

Published 10:48 am Monday, October 17, 2016

Sheriff’s deputies recently discovered drugs, weapons and a frozen alligator carcass in an Angie home.

Acting on a tip from a United States Postal Service Inspector and after a Customs and Border Patrol canine had alerted to the likely presence of marijuana in a mailed box, the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force obtained a search warrant from a 22nd Judicial District Judge for a search of a residence located at 26311 Mondy Road in Angie.

On Oct. 12, Drug Task Force detectives, accompanied by a Postal Service Inspector, served the search warrant at the Angie address. Present inside the house were two adult males, two adult females and an infant. During a search of the residence, detectives allegedly discovered the 10-pound box of marijuana concealed inside the bedroom of one of the adult males, along with five firearms, three marijuana plants, drug paraphernalia and a frozen alligator carcass.

Further investigation revealed that the two adult females inside the residence were not involved in the marijuana delivery or the cultivation of the marijuana plants. After sheriff’s deputies determined that only the adult males were involved in the marijuana delivery and cultivation and they were arrested.

Hugh Edward Jones, 43, a resident of the Mondy Road address, and Lawrence C. Walls, 41, a guest at the same address, were arrested and transported to the Washington Parish Jail. Both men are charged with possession with intent to distribute schedule I drugs and possession of a controlled dangerous substance with weapons present. In addition, Walls is charged with eight counts of failure to appear. Bond for Jones has been set at $15,000. The bond for Walls is $45,736.

A Louisiana Wildlife and Fisheries Agent was notified of the discovery of the frozen alligator carcass. He traveled to the scene and took custody of the alligator.

Sheriff Randy Seal was not pleased when he learned of the alleged presence of the firearms.

“It seems that more and more of our contact with criminals involves the presence of weapons. This always carries the potential of danger for our officers. While I fully support the Constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to possess firearms, I do not want to see firearms in the hands of criminals. It is imperative that our officers always return home safely at the end of their watch,” Seal said. “These arrests are a great example of the fine working relationships we have with other state and federal agencies. We will continue to work closely with all of our fellow agencies in our mutual quest to identify criminals, arrest them and put them in jail.”