Monroe Dispatch - No Struggle, No Progress

Disclaimer: All persons are innocent until proven guilty. A failure to use a turn signal landed a local man in jail over the weekend. On Saturday, February 18, 2023, deputies with the Ouachita Parish Sheriff's office, spotted a driver in a beige Toyota traveling on DeSiard Street that failed to use a right turn signal when proceeding to South 26th Street. Deputies said the driver crossed the double yellow lines as they activated their emergency lights to conduct a traffic stop. The alleged driver, who was identified as 23-year-old Oterrious Thomas, failed to stop despite the flashing emergency lights. Deputies then turned on their audible sirens for Thomas to stop, but he allegedly kept driving. The chase involved high speeds for several blocks going through multiple stop signs, according to OPSO. Thomas came to a stop near South 22nd Street, exiting the vehicle and fleeing on foot, deputies said. While fleeing, deputies commanded Thomas to stop, but he refused, continuing on foot. Thomas didn't get far, as deputies soon apprehended him. Deputies said that Thomas was read his rights and told why he was being stopped. Deputies then searched the suspect's vehicle. While conducting a search of the vehicle, deputies found one gram of suspected marijuana in a clear plastic bag and less than a gram of loose marijuana on the floor and under the driver's seat. Deputies also said that there was a partial marijuana cigarette on the ground under the driver's door. Deputies would also learn that Thomas had an arrest warrant on eight different counts. Thomas was taken into custody and charged with many counts, including Turning Movements and Required Signals, Flight from an Officer, Aggravated Flight from an Officer, Resisting an Officer, Failure to Appear, and Possession of a Dangerous Controlled Substance, Schedule 1- Marijuana. Thomas' bond is set at $67,600.