Thibodaux Police Narcotics Agents and Detectives received information that James Richard was located at the Chateau St. Charles Apartments located at 1207 St. Charles St. in the City limits of Thibodaux.  Detectives knew of the active warrant on Richard for Theft.  Narcotics Agents for the Thibodaux Police Department had received several calls recently on the narcotics hot line, 446-DOPE, with information of possible drug or narcotics sales from an apartment at 1207 St. Charles St.

 Detectives and Narcotics Agents went to the apartment complex where Agents did observe Richard and Truehill outside of apartment #4 of the complex.  The agents approached and identified themselves and advised Richard that he was under arrest for a warrant for theft.  Richard was handcuffed and escorted without incident to a police unit.  Agents were speaking to Truehill and advised him of the numerous “tips” of narcotics sales from this apartment complex.  Truehill, after being asked, allowed Agents to search his person for any illegal narcotics or paraphernalia.  Nothing of this nature was located on Truehill or his clothing.  Truehill was asked if a search could be made of his apartment and he became very loud and argumentative.  Truehill announced that he lived with a relative and could not give permission to search.  The relative was contacted and did give permission to search the apartment.  Truehill pointed out a room that had a locked entrance door and opened the door for Agents allowing the search.

In this room search, Agents located, in a laundry basket under articles of clothing, a clear plastic sandwich bag that contained 42 smaller bags of suspected “crack” cocaine.  Truehill was then advised that he was under arrest for possession with intent to distribute “crack” cocaine and was transported to the Thibodaux Police Station where he was booked for the charges.  Truehill and Richard were both transported to the Lafourche Parish Detention Center where they are currently being held.  There was no information of bond at the time of this report.

In a separate issue, Judge Jerome Barbera sentenced Kevin Paul Tolbert, 18 years old of 302 California Street, to fifteen days in Lafourche Parish Detention Center.  Tolbert pleaded guilty in open court on September 25, 2003 to resisting arrest and battery of a police officer.  Fifteen days is the minimum mandatory sentence for battery of a police officer.

Tolbert was arrested by Thibodaux Police on April 12, 2003 and originally charged with nuisance, driving without a driver’s license, resisting an officer, battery on a police officer and criminal damage to property.  Tolbert was booked and brought to the Lafourche parish Detention Center that day and was released on bond awaiting his trial which resulted in the fifteen day jail sentence.