Police explorer helps with drug arrest

GONZALES — A police explorer was instrumental in helping officers make a drug arrest when police said he saw a man throw a “blunt” out of his car during a routine traffic stop.

On Jan. 8, Officer Dustin Kincaid was patrolling the 500 block of St. Louis Street with a police explorer when he saw a vehicle stopped at the red light at the intersection of St. Louis and St. Paul, Capt. Allen Taylor reported. He noticed that the passenger side brake light was malfunctioning. According to Taylor, the explorer saw something being thrown out of the passenger side window.

Kincaid pulled the vehicle over, identifying the driver as Christopher Adam Henson, 25, of Gonzales. Smelling the odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, the officer obtained Henson’s driver’s license, but Henson said he did not have one.

Kincaid asked Henson to step from the vehicle, asking him if he had smoked marijuana. Henson said he had, and as another officer arrived to assist a search was conducted of the vehicle. A background check on Henson’s license revealed it to be invalid, and Henson was arrested, Taylor said.

Although no drugs were found in the vehicle, a subsequent search of the area where the explorer saw the object thrown out led to the discovery of a cigar with marijuana rolled inside. Henson was arrested and charged with driving while license invalid, possession of marijuana and tampering with evidence. He was taken to Gonzales County Jail.