Ruston Police arrested a local man Sunday night after suspected ecstasy tablets were found during a traffic stop.
An officer stopped a Chevrolet Impala on West California Avenue for traveling 49 mph in a 35 mph zone about 8 p.m. Sunday. The driver provided the vehicle registration and stated that was all he had and that the vehicle did not belong to him. He requested a citation and be allowed to leave.
Upon questioning, the driver provided the name Damian Turner, who was also listed as the registered owner. He was again asked if the vehicle belonged to him, and he seemed nervous and said no. He then provided a date of birth that did not match a driver’s license check of the name he provided.
The officer saw several cigar packages and unrolled loose tobacco inside the vehicle, often an indication of marijuana use. When asked when he last smoked in the vehicle, he admitted having some pills in the center console he had purchased on the street. A search of the vehicle yielded six suspected ecstasy tablets.
The driver was arrested and booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center under the name Damien Turner. Further investigation by the detention center staff revealed his real name was Rodney J. Turner and the false name given was that of a family member.
Warrants were found charging Rodney Turner with failure to appear in Ruston City Court for having for driving under suspension and operating an off road vehicle on the roadway and four warrants from Third Judicial Court for failure to appear on driving under suspension, flight from an officer, reckless operation, and no motorcycle helmet.
Turner was additionally charged with resisting an officer by providing a false name and date of birth. Bail was set at $30,500.
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.
