On Monday, December 5, Ascension Parish Sheriff’s deputies conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle that failed to properly signal a turn.

According to Lt. Col. Ward Webb, deputies approached the vehicle and could smell a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle. Deputies identified the driver as 23-year-old Kiren Chatman of Donaldsonville. Deputies noticed a large Ziploc bag containing a green, leafy substance believed to be marijuana in plain view on the passenger side of the vehicle.

As deputies searched the vehicle, they also located another large Ziploc bag of what appeared to be marijuana and a scale commonly used to measure narcotics. It was also discovered that the vehicle had an expired motor vehicle inspection sticker.

Kiren Chatman, 23, of 506 Martin Luther King Dr., Donaldsonville, was arrested and charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to signal when turning, and expired motor vehicle inspection sticker.

He was booked into the Ascension Parish Jail where no bond has been set yet.

Anyone with information on illegal drug activity is urged to contact the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division at 225-621-8350 or by texting 847411 to our anonymous tip line from any cellular device or Crime Stoppers at 225-344-STOP (7867). To be eligible for a cash reward, you must call Crime Stoppers immediately.