Seat Belt Check Leads to Drug Arrest

Derrick Dewayne Gibson, Jr., age 31 and a resident of March Robinson Road east of Varnado, is in the  Washington Parish Jail after his tenth arrest. Gibson was arrested Wednesday (February 3, 2021) on Pearsoll Road after he attempted to elude Washington Parish deputies who were conducting a seat belt check as part of a Highway Safety Occupant Protection grant from the State of Louisiana.

Sgt. David Cupp, Deputy Raymond Myers and Deputy Kyle Stogner discovered illegal drugs packaged for sale and over $3,000 in cash, all of which was stored in Gibson’s vehicle. He was transported to the Washington Parish Jail and booked on charges of possession with intent to distribute heroin and methamphetamine, resisting an officer with force, criminal damage, no seat belt and outstanding warrants for third offense domestic abuse battery and domestic abuse child endangerment.

The arrest was not simple. An irate Gibson physically resisted the deputies and damaged a patrol vehicle before trying to flee on foot while handcuffed. After being tased, Gibson fell to the ground and was subdued by the officers.

Gibson’s Washington Parish arrest history began in March 2011 and include charges of  possession of illegal drugs with the intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, resisting arrest by flight, obstruction of justice, speeding, possession of marijuana, resisting an officer, driving while intoxicated, introduction of contraband into a correctional facility, domestic abuse battery, two counts of home invasion with aggravated assault, false imprisonment, two counts of domestic abuse with child endangerment, domestic abuse of a pregnant woman, three counts of violation of a protective order, three counts of contempt of court and failure to honor a written promise.

“You think he would have learned by now,” stated Sheriff Randy Seal. “Apparently not. While it is hard for a rational law abiding person to imagine such a lifestyle, there are far too many who embrace it. Those are the persons who populate our jail and the many other jails and prisons throughout our nation. Those are the persons for whom our laws were designed. Honest persons do not need the law in order to be the persons they are.”