8 Pounds of Marijuana Found During Drug Arrest

A 25-year-old Opelousas man was arrested Friday after Opelousas Police Department officers allegedly seized about 8 pounds of marijuana from his vehicle and residence, police said.

Antonio Rideaux, 165 Claude St., Opelousas, on Friday was arrested and charged with two counts of possession with intent to distribute Schedule I drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with a suspended license and improper turning movements, OPD spokesman Sgt. Jody White said.

During questions, Rideaux said he was selling drugs because “he had some legal fees through his attorney,” White said.

Rideaux was arrested for possession with intent to distribute Schedule I drugs, possession with intent to distribute Schedule II drugs and felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm with an obliterated serial number in 2007, White said. He also was arrested in 2000 for simple assault, he added.

Rideaux was stopped Friday after officers apparently watched him make an illegal right turn. During the roadside interview, officers detected a strong odor emitting from the vehicle that was similar to the scent of marijuana, according to a news release.

Rideaux then gave officers permission to search the vehicle, where officers located a green backpack containing

two gallon-sized plastic bags filled with suspected marijuana, along with five smaller plastic bags filled with marijuana, police said.

The marijuana seized from the vehicle had a street value of about $2,000, according to a news release.

Shortly after, officers learned more information about possible narcotics. They obtained and executed a search warrant at the residence where Rideaux is living. There, officers located two additional large plastic bags containing suspected marijuana on a shelf in a bedroom near a safe, according to a news release.

When officers opened the safe, they allegedly found an additional three gallon-sized plastic bags of marijuana. Several additional bags of marijuana were located throughout the residence during the search, according to a news release.

About 8 pounds of marijuana with a street value greater than $8,000 was located and seized from the property belonging to Rideaux, according to the news release.

Rideaux was in the process of posting a $51,000 bond on Monday, White said.