Shooting victim arrested on drug charges

Joseph Himel Jr. was bleeding from a gunshot wound to the stomach when Terrebonne sheriff’s deputies arrived at 107 Calumet St. in Thibodaux Sunday, authorities said.

He was rushed to University Hospital for treatment, and released later that morning, Terrebonne sheriff’s spokesman Maj. Malcolm Wolfe said.

Armed with a search warrant, sheriff’s detectives and agents with the parish Narcotics Task Force returned to Himel’s residence only to discover more than 1,861 grams of marijuana, carrying a street value of $11,167, and more than 1,115 doses of Xanax and Quetiapine Fumarate prescription pill, valued at $557.50. Detectives also recovered a .380-caliber handgun, a drug scale, money counter and $645 cash, Wolfe said.

The gun, the spokesman said, is believed to have been used in the shooting.

Detectives believe someone was trying to steal drugs from Himel’s home, Wolfe said.

Narcotics Division detectives arrested Himel Sunday evening, charging him with possession with the intent to distribute marijuana; possession with the intent to distribute CDS (Xanax); possession with the intent to distribute a Legend drug (Quetiapine Fumarate); possession of drug paraphernalia; illegal proceeds derived from the sale of narcotics; and weapons in the presence of a CDS, Wolfe said.

Bond was set at $40,000.

Wolfe said the case remains under investigation. Anyone with information is asked to call the sheriff’s office at (985) 876-2500, or Bayou Region Crime Stoppers, 800-743-7433. Callers to Crime Stoppers do not have to give their name, and may become eligible for a cash reward if the information leads to an arrest.

Joseph Himel Jr.