Bogalusa Woman Booked After Resisting Officers

Source: Washington Parish Sheriff's Office Press Release

Last Thursday (May 7, 2020), Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office patrol deputies Chad Cassard and Kyle Stogner observed a vehicle run a stop sign in north Bogalusa. The driver of the vehicle initially gave a false name, but was identified by deputies as Emelda Deneen Matthews, age 40 and a resident of Bogue Apartments in Bogalusa.

After a consent search of Matthews’ purse and vehicle, deputies discovered several different types of illegal narcotics. Matthews was placed under arrest, at which time she physically resisted both officers. She was subdued, transported to the Washington Parish Jail, and booked on several traffic charges in addition to two counts of resisting an officer with force or violence, possession of illegal drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and identity theft. She remains in the Washington Parish Jail with her bond set at $10,000.

Matthews has three previous stays in the parish jail. In April 2014, she was charged with traffic offenses, possession of drug paraphernalia and two counts of possession of illegal narcotics. In October 2017, she was charged with two counts of contempt of court, two counts of failure to appear in court, two counts of attempted arson and two counts of attempted theft. A January 2020 arrest was on charges of three counts of criminal damage to property and failure to appear in court.

“Traffic stops,” said Sheriff Randy Seal, “are not always simple matters and often lead to more serious charges. In this case, two alert deputies were able get illegal drugs out of our community. As always, I congratulate them on a job well done.”