A Louisiana man was arrested on multiple drug charges while being investigated for shoplifting.
Sheriff James Pohlmann announced that the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office apprehended a local St. Bernard man on July 20. The arrest ensued from an event where the individual was allegedly found stealing from a St. Bernard business, which also led to various drug-related charges against him.
Kenneth Warden, aged 41, of the St. Bernard area, was charged with possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession with intent to distribute fentanyl, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, possession with intent to distribute Clonazepam, resisting an officer, simple criminal damage to property and theft.
Sheriff Pohlmann confirmed that on Thursday, July 20, just before 10 in the morning, deputies from the Field Operations Bureau Patrol Division reacted to a request for assistance. This was concerning an individual sighted stealing spray paint from a business on the 900 block of Bayou Road in the St. Bernard community.
Upon their arrival at the scene, deputies encountered the suspect, who was later recognized as Warden. He began to resist and tried to escape, but following a short struggle, he was captured by the deputies and put under arrest.
During the incident, Warden tried to get rid of several transparent plastic bags, but the deputies were able to retrieve them.
Throughout their investigation, agents from the Special Investigations Division on Narcotics found several items Warden tried to discard.
The following are the items authorities indicated Warden attempted to dispose of:
Twenty-four transparent plastic bags were discovered, holding a total of 12 grams of a substance resembling black tar, which was confirmed to be heroin. The estimated total worth of this substance on the street is approximately $1,200.
Two transparent plastic bags holding a total weight of 3 grams of combined drugs, cocaine and fentanyl, which are believed to be worth approximately $300 on the street.
A transparent plastic bag holding 1 gram of methamphetamine, which is approximately worth $100 in street value.
There are 14 Clonazepam pills divided among three transparent plastic bags.
Warden was taken to St. Bernard Parish Prison for processing on the aforementioned charges.
Sheriff Pohlmann is urging locals to alert the Sheriff’s Office about possible illegal drug activity in St. Bernard Parish by contacting their narcotics hotline at (504) 271-DOPE or 3673.
An arrest is an indication that probable cause exists to believe the subject was involved in the offense alleged. All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.