A Bogalusa man was arrested on drugs and weapons charges, among other offenses, after a traffic stop Wednesday, Nov. 22, according to Chief Deputy Mike Haley of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Haley said that Tyrell Davon McGowan, 30, a resident of Adams Street in Bogalusa, was sent to the Washington Parish Jail for the sixth time. WPSO Patrol Deputy Tyler Lindsey made the arrest.

Haley said that Lindsey was patrolling in the Angie area when he observed a vehicle that had no license plate or inspection sticker. Lindsey pursued the vehicle, which was headed east on Highway 438, and made a traffic stop.

As Lindsey approached the suspect vehicle on foot, he noticed a strong odor of marijuana coming from the car, Haley said. Two people were in the vehicle. The driver was McGowan and his passenger was Trevor D. Smith, 25, a resident of Foster Town Road in Angie.

Haley said that both men were very nervous as they exited their vehicle. For safety reasons, Lindsey searched each man for weapons as he detained them.

McGowan gave permission for Lindsey to search the vehicle. Haley said that the search revealed several packages of narcotics and a fully loaded semi-automatic pistol, which turned out to be stolen. Although McGowan took responsibility for sole possession of all the narcotics, both men were arrested and transported to the Washington Parish Jail, Haley said.

McGowan was booked into the jail and charged with four counts of possession with intent to distribute Schedule I drugs, three counts of possession with intent to distribute Schedule II drugs, one count of possession with intent to distribute Schedule IV drugs, three counts of distribution of Schedule I drugs, possession of legend drugs without a prescription, possession of controlled dangerous substances with a weapon present, possession of a stolen firearm, convicted felon in possession of a firearm, no license plate and no inspection sticker. As of Wednesday afternoon, he remained in jail with his bond set at $700,000.

McGowan has been jailed in Washington Parish on five previous occasions dating from 2011, Haley said. He was arrested those five times for a variety of offenses, including carnal knowledge of a juvenile, possession with intent to distribute illegal drugs and attempted second degree murder.

Smith was booked into the Washington Parish Jail and charged with being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm. As of Wednesday afternoon, he remained in jail with his bond set at $50,000.

Smith’s one previous stay in the Washington Parish Jail was for a 2015 arrest when he was charged with distribution of Schedule II drugs, Haley said.

“Deputy Lindsey’s alertness led to two felons being relocated from our community to our jail,” Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal said. “Great job, Deputy Lindsey! It is obvious that these two fellows were not on a goodwill mission.

“With that many drugs and a loaded pistol, they were looking for anything but a church service. One can only imagine what Deputy Lindsey may have prevented by arresting these men.”