WPSO Arrests Three on Drug Charges After Traffic Stop

Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office Deputy Randall Garcia was on patrol today (November 12, 2020) in the Franklinton area when he noticed a driver committing traffic offenses. Deputy Garcia stopped the vehicle and encountered three occupants. Sgt. Michael Thomas arrived on the scene and assisted in removing the occupants from the vehicle.

The vehicle was searched with the permission of the driver. During the search, the officers discovered narcotics, drug paraphernalia and a counterfeit fifty dollar bill. All three persons were arrested and transported to the Washington Parish Jail.

The driver, Chad Everrett Carden, 48, a resident of South Choctaw Road, Stephen Anthony Baudoin, 36, a resident of Tylertown, Mississippi, and Amanda Sue Hentner-Crosby, 41, a resident of Avenue E in Bogalusa, were booked into the Washington Parish Jail on charges of possession of illegal drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of counterfeit currency. Carden was additionally charged with driving under suspension. Crosby was charged also with failure to appear in court.

Carden has several previous stays in the Washington Parish Jail beginning with an August 2017 arrest for driving while intoxicated. He was remanded to jail from court later in 2017 and 2018 before being arrested again in 2019 for numerous offenses, including false imprisonment, domestic abuse, resisting arrest by flight, possession of marijuana, distribution of illegal drugs, criminal damage to property, failure to appear in court and numerous traffic offenses. The 2019 arrest followed a vehicle chase that began on South Choctaw Road and extended to Swamp Road in St. Tammany Parish where Carden abandoned his vehicle and fled on foot into adjacent woods. The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office responded with a tracking dog but were unable to locate Carden. Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office Sgt. David Cupp obtained a warrant for Carden’s arrest and he was taken into custody at a later time without incident.

Baudoin has no other incarcerations in Washington Parish and Crosby has been in the jail two times previously. In 2018 she was arrested for possession of heroin and drug paraphernalia. She was arrested again in 2019 for failure to appear in court.

“It’s difficult to fathom why people do what they do,” stated Sheriff Randy Seal. “Yet, far too many people choose to exist outside of the scope of law. They make poor decisions and must suffer the consequences of their poor choices. I congratulate Deputy Garcia and Sgt. Thomas on a job well done.”