Sheriff: Drug arrest made near Rayburn entrance

Published 10:20 am Tuesday, November 8, 2022

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office narcotics detectives were traveling on Louisiana Highway 21 north of Varnado on Thursday, when they observed a Mississippi licensed truck being driven southbound at an excessive speed.

The truck was stopped near the entrance to Rayburn Correctional Center and the driver, Devree Devonte Allen, 35, a resident of Arthur B. Johnson Road in Columbia, Miss., was discovered to be in possession of a quantity of illegal drugs. Allen’s passenger, Tiffany Ann Varnado, 33, a resident of Grace Road in Columbia, was also cited for being in possession of illegal drugs.

Detectives conducted a search of the vehicle after Allen admitted cocaine and methamphetamine were inside. The search yielded approximately two pounds of methamphetamine and more than four ounces of cocaine in addition to more than $6,000 cash. The drugs and cash were seized as evidence.

Allen was booked into the Washington Parish Jail on charges of two counts of possession with intent to distribute illegal drugs, transactions involving proceeds from drug offenses, speeding and having no insurance. Varnado was booked into the jail on two counts of possession with intent to distribute illegal drugs.

“There is no such thing as a routine traffic stop,” Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal said. “Our officers never know the intent of the driver or passenger or what might be in the vehicle. All traffic stops are made with an abundance of caution. We may not know exactly why these folks were traveling from Marion County to Washington Parish.

“We do know, however, that the drugs in their possession will never be used for illegal purposes. This was a good traffic stop and arrest on the part of our dedicated officers.”