By Monique Roth
L’Observateur

EDGARD — A convicted felon from Edgard was arrested Saturday on charges including resisting a deputy with force, possession with intent to distribute crack and firearm possession.

Casimere August III, 23, of East 6th Street in Edgard was arrested after a St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle on Louisiana 18 at 1:25 p.m. in Edgard.

When the arresting deputy asked August for his driver’s license, August told the deputy his license was suspended.

“The deputy smelled the odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle,” a release from the Sheriff’s Office said. “During a search of the vehicle, the deputy recovered about $180 worth crack cocaine and a loaded handgun from the vehicle.”

Sgt. Dane Clement said August, a convicted felon on active probation, was in possession of nine individually wrapped crack rocks in a container, which led to the possession with intent charge.

Clement said August resisted arrest several times by pulling away from the deputy, but said no one was injured during the action.

During the booking procedure, correctional officers located a small amount of marijuana in August’s hair, authorities said.

He was booked with operating a vehicle with a suspended license, resisting a deputy with force or violence, possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, illegal carrying of a weapon with a CDS and possession of marijuana and violation of probation.

August remains in custody in lieu of a $65,000 bond and a probation hold.