LA: Hunting violation turns to drug arrest

December 24, 2009

Hunting violation turns to drug arrest 

MINDEN - A weekend investigation by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries into the alleged illegal hunting activities of a Minden man led to a drug arrest by Webster Parish sheriff's investigators.

Tommy Ray Butler, 26, was charged with illegally carrying weapons and possession of Xanax, methamphetamine, steroids, drug paraphernalia and anabolic steroid.

A complaint about potential illegal hunting led LDWF agents to contact Butler midday Saturday. His property was searched, and agents discovered several illegally possessed items, including drugs and a gun.

Butler, according to Sheriff's investigator Sgt. Scott Tucker, has been arrested three times in the last year on felony drug charges.

"Because he was still on probation, he isn't allowed to have a weapon," Tucker said. "When (LDWF) agents searched further, they found the drugs in his vehicle along with a computer generated printout indicating that illegal online purchases of drugs may have been made by Butler. That's when they called us in to assist."

Butler admitted during an interview with sheriff's deputies to purchasing foreign anabolic steroids via the Internet, authorities said in a news release.

Twelve vials of anabolic steroids were seized, along with needles, glass pipes and two computers used in the drug transactions. "This quantity of drugs would have had a significant impact in the public. I'm glad we removed them from the streets because this needs to stop," Tucker said.

More charges may follow in connection with wildlife carcasses that also were found in the search of Butler's home.

"We have to commend the Wildlife and Fishery agents," said Sheriff Gary Sexton. "They looked past the surface into a case that resulted in a very good arrest.".

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