Sheriff: Reckless driver arrested for drugs

Published 9:54 am Thursday, October 8, 2020

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A Washington Parish man was arrested Wednesday on drug-related charges, according to Chief Deputy Mike Haley of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Haley said that WPSO Deputy Jay Dupre was traveling on Avenue B in Bogalusa on Wednesday when he noticed a vehicle being driven in an erratic manner, carelessly passing other vehicles and speeding through a school zone. The truck, which had an expired license plate, proceeded north on Avenue B, crossed the bridge and then turned onto Okechobee before the driver stopped in response to Dupre’s pursuit, Haley said.

The driver, Dana H. McLemore, 59, a resident of Highway 1072, had illegal drugs on his person and in his truck, according to Haley. He was arrested and transported to the Washington Parish Jail where he was booked on three counts of possession of illegal drugs, possessing drugs in a drug-free zone, having an open container of alcohol in his vehicle and traffic offenses.

“Drinking and driving combined with illegal drugs is not a good way to navigate the streets of our parish,” Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal said. “I appreciate Deputy Dupre’s alertness and his pro-active law enforcement. As our officers roam throughout the parish, they are always on the lookout for any person who is violating the law. I am so pleased with the hard work of all of the men and women of your Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.”