Suspicious Person Report Leads to Drug Arrest

Today (October 26, 2020), an early morning report of a suspicious person going door to door on Mitchell Road south of Bogalusa led Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Jay Dupre and Deputy James Gregorio to the area. Unable to locate a suspicious person on Mitchell Road, the officers spotted a man fitting the description sitting next to a business on Highway 21.

James Alton Odom, age 32 and a resident of Willow Street in Bogalusa, was identified as the person seen earlier on Mitchell Road. A pat-down search of Odom revealed a hypodermic needle containing methamphetamine, other hypodermic needles and a quantity of methamphetamine concealed in Odom’s sock.

Odom was arrested and transported to the Washington Parish Jail charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of drug paraphernalia.

“It just doesn’t make sense to me,” stated Sheriff Randy Seal. “There are much easier ways to find comfort and meaning in life than through drug use. I hope this arrest serves as a means for Mr. Odom to re-evaluate his priorities in life and get whatever help he needs so that he won’t be walking a parish road and disturbing residents in the wee hours of the morning.”