A Bogalusa man was arrested Wednesday, July 11, after officers reportedly discovered drugs in his vehicle, according to Chief Deputy Mike Haley of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Haley said that on July 11, detectives assigned to the WPSO’s Drug Task Force assisted Probation and Parole agents with a residence check on Mercedes Street in Bogalusa. During the course of the residence check, DTF detectives obtained a search warrant for a vehicle parked in the driveway. During the search of the vehicle, detectives discovered a significant quantity of illegal drugs, a semi-automatic .40-caliber pistol and a significant amount of cash, Haley said.

Ja’Vontay Owens, a resident of the Mercedes Street address, was arrested and transported to the Washington Parish Jail.

He was booked on numerous charges, including possession with intent to distribute Schedule I, Schedule II and Schedule IV drugs, possession of marijuana, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, convicted felon in possession of a firearm and failure to honor a written promise. As of Monday, Owens remained in the Washington Parish Jail with his bond set at $200,150.

“One more drug dealer off of our streets,” Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal said. “These folks just don’t seem to understand that drug dealing is a one-way street to jail. We may not catch them today, but we will catch them tomorrow or one day in the near future.

“Drug dealers should keep looking over their shoulders, because the footsteps they hear are our officers.”