Woman With Child In Car Arrested For Drug Possession

A Gibson woman was arrested by a deputy of the St. Mary Parish Sheriff's Office last night after a traffic stop.

The deputy says that 23-year-old Chantel Ruffin was arrested on charges of possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance, possession of a controlled dangerous substance in the presence of a minor and possession of drug paraphernalia.

While a deputy was patrolling in the Amelia area, he noticed that Ruffin failed to use her turn signal, so she was pulled over.  The deputy says he then smelled a strong odor of burning marijuana coming from Ruffin's car when he went up to speak to her.

After getting Ruffin's consent to search her vehicle, he says he found multiple bags of marijuana as well as marijuana hidden in a soda can and in a fast food wrapper.  The deputy says he also found clear plastic bags, grinders, a digital scale, a firearm and just over a thousand dollars.

A minor in the car at the time Ruffin was pulled over was then placed in the care of guardian.