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On Tuesday, officers with the Bogalusa Police Department Violent Crimes Task Force executed a search warrant at a residence in the 700 block of Avenue C. The search warrant was the culmination of an extensive investigation into the sale of heroin and other illegal narcotics by Jamar McGowan from his residence, according to BPD officials.

Upon entering the residence, officers encountered Jamar McGowan, Kenyatta Scott Jr. and DeAnthony McGowan in the front living room. As officers were securing the three suspects, a large and aggressive pit bull dog, weighing over 100 pounds, reportedly entered the living room and attacked one of the officers. As the dog was biting the officer, the officer had no choice but to shoot the dog, killing it.

The officer went to the Our Lady of the Angels Hospital emergency room for treatment of leg wounds, as well as rabies treatment. The same dog attacked a female outside of the residence earlier this month, and she suffered multiple lacerations and a broken leg, BPD officials said.

After the three suspects were detained, a search of the residence was conducted. Officers reportedly located two 9mm handguns in the living room where the suspects were located. Over eight grams of heroin, 1.6 pounds of marijuana, a small amount of a Schedule II narcotic and drug paraphernalia were seized. Over $2,000 in U.S. Currency, believed to be proceeds from the sale of illegal narcotics, was also seized, BPD officials said.

Arrested were:

• Jamar McGowan, charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Illegal Carrying of a Weapon while in Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance in a Drug Free Zone, and Possession of a Schedule II Narcotic.
• Kenyatta Scott Jr., charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Illegal Carrying of a Weapon while in Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Transactions Involving Proceeds from Drug Offenses, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance in a Drug Free Zone, and Possession of a Schedule II Narcotic.
• DeAnthony McGowan, charged with Possession with Intent to Distribute Heroin, Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana, Illegal Carrying of a Weapon while in Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance in a Drug Free Zone, and Possession of a Schedule II Narcotic.

BPD officials said that Jamar McGowan is a convicted felon with four previous arrests by the Bogalusa Police Department, including prior drug offenses. Scott reportedly has three previous arrests by the Bogalusa Police Department. Two of these arrests were made earlier this year involving felony weapons and drug offenses, for which he was currently out on bond on both arrests.

All three suspects were booked into the Bogalusa City Jail and transferred to the Parish Jail. The case will be referred to District Attorney Warren Montgomery’s office for prosecution.

 

BPD officials detail marijuana laws

In a Facebook post, BPD officials made the following additional statement:

“When we arrest suspects for offenses involving marijuana, we often receive many negative comments by advocates of marijuana legalization. While those individuals are entitled to their opinion, the Bogalusa Police Department will continue to enforce the law currently in place, until such time as these laws are repealed. We do not make laws, we enforce them. Below is the current law for Distribution and Possession with Intent to Distribute Marijuana:

• 966. Penalty for distribution or possession with intent to distribute narcotic drugs listed in Schedule I; possession of marijuana, synthetic cannabinoids, and heroin

1. Manufacture; distribution. Except as authorized by this Part, it shall be unlawful for any person knowingly or intentionally:

(1) To produce, manufacture, distribute or dispense or possess with intent to produce, manufacture, distribute, or dispense, a controlled dangerous substance or controlled substance analogue classified in Schedule I.

(2) To create, distribute, or possess with intent to distribute, a counterfeit controlled dangerous substance classified in Schedule I.

(3) To cultivate, possess, process, or sell industrial hemp, industrial hemp products, or viable industrial hemp seeds not in accordance with the U.S. Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 or the plan submitted by the Louisiana Department of Agriculture and Forestry that is in compliance with the U.S. Department of Agriculture rules.

1. Violations of Subsection A. Any person who violates Subsection A of this Section with respect to:

(1) Except as otherwise provided in Paragraphs (2) and (3) of this Subsection, a substance classified in Schedule I, upon conviction for an amount of:

(a) An aggregate weight of less than twenty-eight grams, shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than one year nor more than ten years and may, in addition, be required to pay a fine of not more than fifty thousand dollars.

(b) An aggregate weight of twenty-eight grams or more, shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than one year nor more than twenty years and may, in addition, be required to pay a fine of not more than fifty thousand dollars.

(2) A substance classified in Schedule I which is marijuana, tetrahydrocannabinols, or chemical derivatives of tetrahydrocannabinols, or synthetic cannabinoids for an amount of:

(a) An aggregate weight of less than two and one half pounds, shall be imprisoned, with or without hard labor, for not less than one year nor more than ten years, and pay a fine of not more than fifty thousand dollars.

(b) An aggregate weight of two and one half pounds or more, shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than one year nor more than twenty years and pay a fine of not more than fifty thousand dollars.

(3) A substance classified in Schedule I that is the narcotic drug heroin or a mixture or substance containing a detectable amount of heroin or its analogues, upon conviction for any amount, shall be imprisoned at hard labor for not less than five years nor more than forty years and may, in addition, be required to pay a fine of not more than fifty thousand dollars.”