Drug Dealer Arrested – Released on $30 Signature Bond

Washington Parish Sheriff's Office Press Release

On January 25, while working in the Clifton/Hackley area investigating complaints about illegal drug sales, a Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office Drug Task Force detective questioned two occupants of a suspicious vehicle in the parking lot of a church on White Hayes Creek Road. The driver stated that he brought his passenger to that location to meet another individual, but did not know the purpose of the meeting.

The driver exited the vehicle and submitted to a search when asked.  The passenger, whom the drug task force had been investigating for the sale of illegal drugs, then exited the vehicle and was searched.

The driver granted permission to search the vehicle and a search of the area where the passenger sat produced several items, including five small plastic baggies containing methamphetamine, one small glass tube containing methamphetamine residue, another plastic bag containing approximately one gram of methamphetamine, six Lortab pills and one Adderall pill. The passenger admitted to ownership of all items.

At that time, the detective arrested Hugh Samuel Smith, 56, a resident of Sam Smith Road in Mt. Hermon. Smith was transported to the Washington Parish Jail charged with three counts of possession of methamphetamine and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia. Smith was released on January 26 after posting only $30 for a signature bond.

Sheriff Randy Seal commented. “Our Drug Task Force detectives had been investigating Smith on a complaint from a parent that Smith was selling drugs to her child. Their investigation and the encounter yesterday led to his arrest. Our detectives did their job, only to learn that this drug dealer was released one day later on a signature bond. WRONG!”