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On Saturday, Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office deputies, along with officers from the Franklinton Police Department, were conducting a sobriety checkpoint on Louisiana Highway 16 west of Franklinton, according to WPSO Chief Criminal Deputy Mike Halye.

When Jared Lane Berry, 21, a resident of Creel Road, stopped at the checkpoint, a deputy determined he was in possession of illegal drugs along with drug paraphernalia and a pistol, Haley said.

Berry was arrested and booked into the Washington Parish Jail charged with possession with intent to distribute illegal drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and carrying a firearm with illegal drugs present.

“Sobriety checkpoints are a valuable tool to identify intoxicated drivers,” Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal said. “They are also helpful to identify persons in possession of illegal drugs, persons with outstanding warrants and sometimes fugitives from other jurisdictions. When you experience the minor inconvenience of having to stop at a checkpoint, be grateful that officers are there and thank them for doing their job.”