Two local men were arrested Thursday after the car they were traveling in was stopped on West California Avenue by Ruston Police Thursday night.
While on patrol, Officer K. Davidson saw a 2006 Honda Accord with an expired license plate. The car was stopped, and the officer smelled raw marijuana inside. An open alcoholic beverage container was also seen. When asked if there was anything illegal in the vehicle, the driver, Jeromi Ashley, Jr., 23, of Dubach, said there was marijuana in the back of the passenger seat.
A search of the car discovered a handgun under the middle console that a passenger, Ty’kerion J. Palmer, 22, of Ruston, said was his.
Palmer was arrested for possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled substance. Ashley was charged with possession of marijuana, open container, no driver’s license, expired inspection sticker, and expired vehicle registration.
Bail for Palmer was set at $5,000. Ashley had apparently posted bail by press time.
This information has been provided by a law enforcement agency as public information. Persons named or shown in photographs or video as suspects in a criminal investigation, or arrested and charged with a crime, have not been convicted of any criminal offense and are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
