A Bernice man was arrested last week after he was pursued by a state trooper into Ruston for a traffic violation on Interstate 20.
Dexter Jermaine Shields, 26, was arrested April 7 for numerous drug and weapon charges, as well as outstanding warrants from Ouachita Parish.
Shortly before 1 p.m., a trooper saw Shields’s Infiniti QX 30 traveling east on I-20. The trooper’s report noted Shields was following a pickup truck at an unsafe distance of about two car lengths at about 70 miles per hour.
When the trooper attempted to stop Shields, the Infiniti left the interstate at the Simsboro exit, but then immediately re-entered I-20.
The pursuit continued into Ruston where Shields reportedly left the interstate at exit 85, traveling north in the southbound lanes of U.S. 167.
Shields allegedly disregarded traffic signals and loss control of his vehicle on Morrison Drive off the North Service Road. He then exited the car and surrendered.
Shields said he ran from the trooper because the vehicle contained drugs and guns.
The vehicle was taken to another location where a search was conducted. Approximately 10 pounds of marijuana, digital scales and a Glock .45 caliber pistol were seized.
Shields is a convicted felon prohibited from possessing a firearm.
A records check showed Shields was wanted in Ouachita Parish for aggravated flight from an officer, careless operation of a vehicle, unauthorized use of a vehicle, and warrants for failure to appear in court on charges of aggravated flight from an officer, no headlights, no driver’s license, no child restraint, no insurance, domestic abuse battery, and possession of marijuana.
Shields was booked at the Lincoln Parish Detention Center for aggravated flight from an officer, following too closely, possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in the presence of a controlled substance, no driver’s license, and the Ouachita Parish warrants.
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.
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