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Traffic stop leads to weapons, drug charges in Opelousas

Posted at 5:41 AM, May 29, 2019
and last updated 2019-05-29 06:41:26-04

An Opelousas man is facing several charges after briefly running from police during a traffic stop on Tuesday.

Opelousas man arrested on drug, gun charges
John Coleman Courtesy OPD

The incident happened at around 1:45 pm on Tuesday near Blanchard & Cyr St. in Opelousas. According to Major Mark Guidry, 28-year-old John Coleman of Opelousas kept driving after officers tried to pull him over for a seatbelt violation

After traveling several blocks, police say Coleman came to a stop on Melancon Street. Officers say a search of the vehicle located two firearms. Guidry says that police records indicated that Coleman was a convicted felon and was barred from possessing those firearms.

Coleman had previously been arrested and convicted of being a felon in possession of a firearm in 2016 along with several other violent crimes, according to police.

He was arrested and booked into the St. Landry Parish Jail on the following charges:

  • No Seatbelt
  • Resisting an officer
  • Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
  • Possession of Schedule II Narcotics (Lortab)
  • Possession of a firearm in the presence of a CDS
  • No Driver’s License
  • No Proof of Insurance