Natchitoches suspect arrested with narcotics, firearms and stolen gun

DISCLAIMER: All persons are innocent until proven guilty.

NATCHITOCHES, La. (KTAL/KMSS) — On Wednesday, at approximately 11:50 a.m. Natchitoches Parish officers conducted a traffic stop, which led to the arrest of a convicted felon.

They found illegal narcotics, drug paraphernalia, a stolen firearm, and more than $770 in cash, according to Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright. Deputies stopped the driver for a traffic violation, and when they said they smelled a ‘strong marijuana smoke odor.’ Casson admitted that he had recently smoked marijuana.

Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office (NPSO) deputies reported the driver, 43-year-old Nicholas J. Casson, was a convicted felon with a history of narcotics and weapons charges. NPSO Deputy C. Halliburton made the arrest.

NPSO says they discovered and seized:

• 5 grams of suspected marijuana
• Brass knuckles
• A loaded handgun, reported stolen from Rapides Parish.
• Multiple bags of suspected crack cocaine and powder cocaine
• Oxycodone pills
• Digital scale, cigar rollers, and drug packaging materials
• $773.00 in small denominations
• Two cell phones

NPSO says Casson was charged with:

• Improper Use of Turn Signals
• Possession of Marijuana
• Possession of Oxycodone (LA RS 40:967C)
• Two counts of Possession with Intent to Distribute Schedule II Narcotics
• Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
• Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon
• Possession of a Firearm in the Presence of CDS
• Possession of a Stolen Firearm
• Second or Subsequent Narcotics Offense

He was placed under arrest without incident, transported, and booked into LaSalle Corrections/Natchitoches Detention Center. NPSO Detectives will contact Rapides Sheriff’s Detectives about the recovered stolen firearm. The investigation remains ongoing.