Bogalusa Traffic Stop Turns Confrontational

Yesterday afternoon (July 2, 2018), Patrolman William Seals of the Bogalusa Police Department Patrol Division observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed on Avenue F. The vehicle also failed to come to a complete stop at the 4-way stop sign at the intersection of Avenue F and W. 8th Street.

Patrolman Seals and other BPD officers initiated a traffic stop. The driver, identified as Cedric A. Oatis (44) of Savannah, GA., reportedly became irate with officers for stopping him. Officers detected the odor of alcohol coming from the vehicle and noticed gleanings of suspected marijuana on the carpet between the drivers door and drivers seat. When the officers instructed Oatis to exit the vehicle, he reportedly attempted to roll up his window and refused to get out of the vehicle. Oatis was physically removed from the vehicle and continued to resist the officers but was handcuffed and placed under arrest.

A search of the vehicle located a bottle of Colt 45 Malt Liquor that was still cold and half empty and a 9 millimeter handgun. Oatis was found to be a convicted felon. A pat down search of Oatis located three Xanax pills and two pills determined to be MDMA (Ecstasy). 

Oatis was charged with Careless Operation of a Vehicle, Possession of Ecstasy, Possession of Xanax, Illegal Carrying of Weapons While in possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, Possession or Carrying of a Weapon by a Convicted Felon, Resisting an Officer, Possession of Alcohol in a Vehicle and 3rd offense Possession of Marijuana.