Wanted Man, Illegal Narcotics, Handgun Found During Slidell-area Traffic Stop

Detectives with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Proactive Enforcement Unit were patrolling the area of Highway 190 west in Slidell on Tuesday (July 22, 2025) when they conducted a traffic stop on a purple Nissan Maxima in the Slidell Manor Subdivision. An individual who identified himself as “Nick Ambo” was a passenger seated in the backseat of the vehicle next to a small child.  While conducting the traffic stop, detectives observed marijuana in plain view inside the vehicle. 

While detectives were searching the vehicle, “Ambo” fled the scene on foot but, after a brief foot pursuit, “Ambo” was apprehended approximately two blocks away. Detectives then learned that “Ambo” had lied about his identity and was actually 35 year-old Anthony Batiste, a convicted felon who had an open warrant for his arrest. 

Inside the vehicle, detectives located a bag on the rear seat near where Batiste had been seated. That bag contained approximately 57 grams of methamphetamine, approximately 3.8 grams of cocaine, approximately 32 grams of marijuana, drug paraphernalia, a handgun and a social security card belonging to Anthony Batiste.

Batiste was placed under arrest on the charges of Manufacture, Distribution Schedule II CDS (Methamphetamine), Manufacture, Distribution Schedule I CDS (Marijuana), Possession of Schedule II CDS(Cocaine), Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon, Illegal Carrying of a Weapon During a Crime of Violence or Felony, Resisting an Officer (2 counts), Illegal Use of CDS in Presence of a Minor, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***