In a joint effort between the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office and the Drug Enforcement Agency, officers concentrated their efforts in Eunice to arrestdrug dealers and gm=ng members engaged in illegl activity.

Sheriff Bobby Guidroz reported on several investigations that led to multiple arrests and the seizures of drugs and firearms.

  • A visit to a suspected area of illegal drug activity resulted in the recovery of a small portion of marijuana and drug paraphernalia.  The suspect that was in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia will be not be identified as of this release for investigative purposes.
  • In another part of the joint effort, one of the participating narcotics agents conducted a traffic stop on U. S. Highway 190.  During the course of the traffic stop investigation, the officer recovered an AK-47 semi-auto rifle.  The suspect, John Drexler Williams, 26, resides at 707 Poke Street, Welsh, La.  He is a convicted felon and currently on parole.  John Drexler Williams was booked for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, improper lane usage, proper equipment required, and no driver’s license on person.
  • Another traffic stop was conducted at the intersection of Maple Street and College Street by another enforcement agent.  During the investigation, the suspect, Christopher Gray, 22, 234 E. Minix Alley, Church Point, La., was found to be in possession of a clear bag containing (84) Ecstasy pills.  Gray is also currently a part of an investigation for ‘Distribution of crack cocaine’.  Sheriff Guidroz said, “During the investigation and interview with Gray, narcotics officers located and seized a clear bag of cocaine that Gray was attempting to conceal in his mouth.  Gray began spitting up what appeared to be cocaine.”   He was transported to Eunice Medical Center by Med Express.  An arrest warrant will be obtained for Gray upon his release at a later date.”  His charges will be failure to signal, no driver’s license, possession of cocaine, possession with intent to distribute schedule II ecstasy, obstruction of justice, controlled dangerous substance in presence of a juvenile and controlled dangerous substance in a drug free zone.
  • Narcotics officers attempted to stop another traffic violator at the intersection of Nimitz and Minerva streets in Eunice.  The driver refused to stop and led narcotics officers on a brief pursuit with speeds averaging 60 mph in the city.  The driver was eventually stopped on Maple Street near the intersection of 3rd street in Eunice.  The driver refused to exit the vehicle and had locked the doors.  He began yelling obscenities at officers and refusing orders to unlock the doors and exit the vehicle.  Officers had to break the driver window to apprehend the suspect.  The driver resisted arrest and had to be physically restrained and brought to the ground.  The driver, Joseph Keith Vories, age 22 with an address of 328 Acadia Street, Eunice, La., was steadily cursing officers and refused to be placed in the police unit.  Upon placing the suspect in the police unit, he kicked the passenger side rear window of the police car causing the glass to shatter.
  • Suspect Vories was brought to the Eunice sub-station where he was checked out by Acadian Ambulance medics when he refused medical attention.  Vories was eventually booked at the St. Landry Parish jail on charges of failure to signal, aggravated flight from officers, resisting an officer, criminal damage to property and no driver’s license.

“This is just a tip of the iceberg as to what we are doing to track down illegal drug dealers and criminals terrorizing our communities," Guidroz said.

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