While working inside the Town of Franklinton on May 5, the Washington Parish Drug Task Force arrested Rodney McCullen, 42, a resident of T. W. Barker Drive.  McCullen was arrested following a traffic stop of a vehicle on 15th Street in which he was a passenger. 

 The owner and driver of the vehicle granted permission for a vehicle search.   During the search of the vehicle, a Drug Task Force detective discovered a bag which McCullen admitted was his.  Inside the bag was a container containing two marijuana pipes loaded with marijuana, rolling papers, a digital scale, a pill grinder with residue and other drug paraphernalia.

 The search also discovered a Crown Royal bag at McCullen’s feet.  The bag contained one .380 caliber pistol and one .22 caliber pistol, both of which belonged to McCullen.   When McCullen was searched, he was wearing a necklace which held two stainless steel pill bottles.  One bottle contained a quantity of Xanax pills and the other contained crack cocaine.

 McCullen, who is on probation from previous offenses, was arrested and booked into the Washington Parish Jail and then transported to another corrections facility for housing.  He is being held without bond at this time.

 McCullen is charged as follows:

 Convicted Felon in Possession of a Firearm

Possession of a Controlled Dangerous Substance With a Weapon Present

Possession of Drug Paraphernalia

Possession of Schedule I Drugs

Possession of Schedule II Drugs

Possession of Schedule III Drugs

Failure to Appear—Felony

Failure to Appear—Misdemeanor

 Sheriff Randy Seal commented.  “Our Drug Task Force is to be commended for getting this drug dealer off of the streets of Franklinton.  Our narcotics detectives work throughout the parish, including the Town of Franklinton and the City of Bogalusa.  They do a great job and Washington Parish is fortunate to have them protecting each of us day and night.”