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Two Washington Parish residents were arrested earlier this week on various drug charges, according to Chief Deputy Mike Haley of the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.

Haley said that WPSO Det. Raymond Myers and Deputy Kyle Stogner were working criminal patrol Tuesday in the Bogalusa area when Stogner observed a driver committing traffic violations. Haley said that Stogner pursued the vehicle, which stopped near the intersection of Lincoln and Redmond Streets, after being blocked by Myers’ vehicle.

“As the suspect vehicle came to a stop, the front-seat passenger jumped out and began to run away with Detective Myers in foot pursuit,” Haley said. “The passenger suspect attempted to jump a fence, fell, and threw a backpack onto a nearby porch. Detective Myers caught up with him, handcuffed him and retrieved the backpack.”

Haley said that when officers inventoried the contents of the backpack, they discovered 1,184 ecstasy pills, prescription drugs, heroin, cocaine, methamphetamine, marijuana, crack cocaine, and a semi-automatic pistol with an obliterated serial number.

The fleeing suspect, identified as Roderick D. Johnson, 36, a resident of Mitch Road, complained of leg pain suffered when he fell while attempting to jump the fence, Haley said. Northshore EMS responded to the scene, medically assessed Johnson, and then transported him to Our Lady of Angels Hospital.

Haley said that when Johnson is released from the hospital, he will be jailed on seven counts of possession of illegal drugs with intent to distribute, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, possession of a firearm with illegal drugs present, possession of drug paraphernalia and resisting an officer by flight on foot.

The driver of the vehicle, David Allen Hall Jr., 36, a resident of Memory Lane in Bogalusa, was arrested for multiple offenses. He was jailed on charges of eight counts of possession of illegal drugs with intent to distribute, three counts of possession of prescription drugs without a prescription, intent to distribute illegal prescription drugs, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number, possession of illegal drugs with a firearm present, possession of drug paraphernalia and a traffic offense.

Haley said that both suspects have previous arrest records in Washington Parish. Johnson’s arrest record dates back to 2009 when he was jailed for aggravated assault in a drive-by shooting, possession of illegal drugs with intent to distribute and three counts of failure to appear in court. Johnson was arrested again in 2014 for aggravated second-degree battery.

In 2016, he was arrested for battery and criminal damage to property. Also in 2016, he was jailed briefly on an order from the court. In August of 2019, Johnson was arrested for multiple offenses, including second degree murder, six counts of possession of illegal drugs with intent to distribute and two counts of sale, distribution or possession of prescription drugs without a prescription. Other charges included sale of illegal drugs, possession of heroin, possession of other illegal drugs, possession of drugs in a drug free zone, possession of drug paraphernalia, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm, possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number and possession of controlled dangerous substances with a weapon present. He was released from jail 13 days later after posting a $300,000 bond, Haley said, noting that he was still under restrictions of that bond when he was arrested Tuesday.

Hall also has a lengthy arrest record, Haley said. In 2006, he was arrested for purse snatching, possession of drug paraphernalia and four counts of resisting an officer. In 2007 and again in 2010, he was remanded to the jail by the court. In June of this year, Hall was arrested on numerous charges, including 14 counts of possession of illegal drugs with intent to distribute, sale of illegal drugs, being a convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possessing illegal drugs with a weapon present. He spent nine days in jail before posting a $200,000 bond. He was still under the restrictions of that bond when he was arrested Tuesday, Haley said.

“That’s a lot of illegal drugs that are no longer on the streets of Bogalusa,” Washington Parish Sheriff Randy Seal said. “The arrest records of these two men speak volumes. Jail is where they belong now and prison is where they belong in the future.

“Honest citizens of our parish are safer after these arrests and I compliment Detective Myers and Deputy Stogner for their excellent, pro-active work in this matter.”