20-Year-Old Arrested for Reckless Driving, Gun Use, and Drug Possession After Police Chase in Alexandria, Louisiana

Rapides Parish, Louisiana - A Louisiana man has been arrested after a police chase ended with his vehicle crashing and him allegedly fleeing on foot with a backpack containing drugs and a gun.

On December 8, 2022, the Rapides Parish Sheriff's Office (RPSO) reported that a K9 Deputy assigned to the Rapides Area Drug Enforcement (RADE) Unit noticed a black Ford Mustang driving erratically on Dallas Street on December 6, 2022, at around 7:00 p.m. The deputy engaged his overhead lights to begin a traffic stop and soon heard three gunshots from what he believed was the driver and sole occupant of the black Mustang.

Other fully marked RADE and RPSO Crime Suppression Units who were working in the vicinity finally joined the pursuit. The pursuit ended when the Ford Mustang, driven by Thawri Sameer Zeidian, 20, of Alexandria, Louisiana collided with a curb on Dartmouth Street, rendering the vehicle inoperable. Zeidian fled on foot while carrying a black backpack, but he left his wallet, which included his Louisiana driver's license, mobile phone, and 9mm handgun inside the vehicle.

The deputies quickly learned that Zeidian escaped to his residence in the 1700 Block of Bush Avenue, one block away from the crash site. Additionally, deputies discovered that Zeidan had access to a firearm within the property.
Two arrest warrants and two search warrants were issued for Zeidian, one for his Ford Mustang and one for his apartment in the 1700 Block of Bush Avenue. Due to the violent nature of the claimed activities and the availability of a firearm, the RPSO SWAT Team was dispatched to the 1700 Block of Bush Avenue to execute the search warrant.

After several hours of unsuccessful attempts to converse with Zeidan, he walked outside, surrendered, and was taken into jail without further incident by SWAT Team deputies just after midnight. During a search of the residence, RADE agents reportedly discovered a black backpack containing roughly 2.5 ounces of marijuana, a digital scale, and a semiautomatic gun.
Thawri Sameer Zeidian was taken into custody and transported to the Rapides Parish Detention Center. Zeidan was subsequently released on bond on December 7th.
Both firearms will be transferred to the North Louisiana Crime Lab for further investigation through the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms' National Integrated Ballistic Information Network, according to RADE agents (NIBIN).

Thawri Sameer Zeidian, 20, of Alexandria, Louisiana, was charged with Reckless operation of a vehicle, Illegal use of a weapon, Flight from an officer, Aggravated assault upon a peace officer
Possession with intent to distribute CDS I (marijuana) <2.5 pounds, and Illegal carry of a firearm with drugs.

An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. A person is innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.