Drugs and stolen firearm from Hammond found during traffic stop in Slidell | Crime

A proactive traffic stop last week resulted in the arrest of a Slidell-area man on drug and weapons charges and the recovery of a stolen firearm.

On September 3rd at approximately 6:30 p.m., detectives from the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Office Proactive Enforcement Unit were conducting a proactive patrol in the Kingspoint Subdivision near Slidell when they stopped a white Chevrolet Malibu for an expired inspection sticker.

During the traffic stop, the driver was observed attempting to use his foot to conceal a handgun on the floor of the vehicle. Further investigation identified the driver, who was wearing a face mask, as Eugene Wellington, 23, of Slidell. Upon searching the vehicle, investigators found a Smith & Wesson handgun and a Glock handgun. The Glock had been reported stolen in Hammond. Investigators also recovered several Tapentadol tablets (an opioid painkiller for which Wellington did not have a valid prescription) and marijuana in the vehicle.

Wellington was arrested and taken to the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center and charged with the following:

• LRS 40:967C Possession of a List II CDS
• LRS 14:69.1 Possession of a stolen firearm
• LRS 14:95E Possession of a firearm in the presence of a CDS (2 counts)
• LRS 32:1304 Inspection sticker required

He also received a summons for LRS 40:966C possession of CDS on List 1