CRIME

Men arrested for selling drugs in church parking lot

Staff Writer
Gonzales Weekly Citizen

Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office Major Kevin Hanna reported the arrests of two men on drug charges following a week-long investigation into an unknown white male selling drugs in the parking lot of a local church in Ascension Parish.

On May 16, 2013, the Sheriff's Office Narcotics detectives began investigating anonymous tips that drugs were being sold in a church parking lot in Lake Martin area of St. Amant. The investigation led detectives to developing a suspect identified as Audie Decoteau of the Lake Martin area. During the course of the investigation detectives records showed that Decoteau had been arrested on April 8 for possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia and was released on a $1,085 bond.

On May 20, 2013, upon conducting surveillance, Narcotics detectives stopped a vehicle driven by Mikel Arnold from Livingston Parish where Audie Decoteau was a passenger in the vehicle and he was subsequently found to be in possession of a quantity of Percocet pills. The driver, Mikel Arnold, was found in possession of Fentanyl and Meloxicam.

As a result of the investigation, Narcotics detectives also charged Audie Decoteau with distribution of Fentanyl. Decoteau also admitted to selling Percocet pills in the church parking lot.

Audie Decoteau, 51, of 14233 Billy Decoteau Road, St. Amant was charged with distribution of schedule II CDS (Fentanyl), possession of schedule II CDS (Percocet), and probation violation. He was booked in the Ascension Parish Jail where no bond has been set.

Mikel Arnold, 38, of 20245 LA Hwy 16, Denham Springs, was charged with possession of schedule II CDS (Fentanyl), and possession of a legend drug (Meloxicam). He was booked in the Ascension Parish Jail where no bond has been set.

Anyone with information on illegal drug activity is urged to contact the Ascension Parish Sheriff's Office Narcotics Division at 225-621-8350 or by texting 847411 to our anonymous tip line from any cellular device or by calling Crime Stoppers at 225-344-STOP (7867).