VPPD recovers narcotics, arrest several

By: CARISSA HEBERT

Managing Editor

Traffic stops, conducted by members of the Ville Plate Police Department, led to the arrest of three men this past week.

The first case occurred Saturday, March 1, when officers reported a call of illegal narcotics in the area, according to Lt. John B. “Chip” Matte, chief of detectives. A traffic stop was conducted by Officer Joey Pitre and Sgt. Shawn Duplechain on Beech Street. Permission to search was given, and officers recovered crack cocaine.

As a result of the stop, officers charged Romain Thomas, 30, 1107 W. Beech St., Ville Platte, with failure to signal and possession of crack cocaine.

“Detective Ervin “Chip” Pitre and Sgt. Joseph “Plywood” Fontenot, both detectives with the Ville Platte Police Department, conducted a traffic stop in the 400 block of Young Street Tuesday, March 4,” Matte said in regards to the second narcotics case. “They determined there was a strong odor of marijuana.”

Matte said the detectives obtained permission to search from the driver, Bobby Chapman, 49, 216 Bollich St., Eunice. They discovered marijuana and cocaine. As a result, Chapman was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of cocaine.

In the third case, Matte said a traffic stop was conducted on the 700 block of Young Street by Pitre and Sgt. Fontenot. A search was conducted and authorities discovered a small amount of marijuana in the driver’s shoe.

As a result of this incident, charges of simple possession of marijuana and resisting arrest were filed against Derek Roy, 25, 131 Castel Road, Lafayette. Roy was booked into the city jail and released on a $4332.50 bond. Officer Chad Mead assisted the detectives in this case.