Suspect Throws Drugs From Vehicle During Traffic Stop

Thibodaux Chief of Police Bryan Zeringue announced the arrest of Leonard Flakes (B/M, 39 of Baton Rouge, La.), for Signal Lamps / Signal Devices, Driver Must be Licensed, Obstruction of Justice (Felony), Possession of Marijuana 14 Grams or Less, Possession of Cocaine Less than 28 Grams (Felony), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Crack Cocaine Less than 28 Grams (Felony), Possession of Heroin (Felony), Possession of Suboxone (Felony) and active 17^th JDC Arrest Warrant.

On Friday, December 3, 2021, shortly after 11:00 p.m., Thibodaux Police Officers observed a 2000 Black Jeep Cherokee have an equipment violation on the vehicle. As the Officer prepared to stop the vehicle for the violation, the driver later identified as Leonard Flakes was seen throwing a black box-like object out the vehicle’s window. The vehicle was stopped near the intersection of Saint Mary Street & Tiger Drive, at which time it was learned that Mr. Flakes had an active 17^th JDC arrest warrant.

During the course of the stop, Officers obtained indications that illegal narcotics may have been present inside the vehicle. A Thibodaux Police Department K-9 was then used to search the exterior of the vehicle, which gave a positive alert to the odor of narcotics inside the vehicle. A search of the vehicle by officers later rendered the findings of a digital scale and remnants of suspected marijuana inside the vehicle. The thrown object was also later recovered, which was found to be a box containing several small plastic baggies filled with suspected cocaine, suspected crack cocaine, suspected marijuana, suspected heroin, and 10 suspected suboxone strips.

Mr. Flakes was subsequently arrested and transported to the Lafourche Parish Correctional Complex, where he remains on a $36,792.81 bond.