Alva Review-Courier -

A highway patrol traffic stop for a taillight issue ended with charges against a Louisiana man.

Court documents show on Thursday, Jan. 6, Oklahoma Highway Patrol Trooper Justin Barney was patrolling on US-64 near County Road 590 in Alfalfa County when he saw a silver pickup traveling westbound with the left rear taillight inoperable. Barney turned his vehicle around to make a traffic stop. He turned on his emergency lights, and as he caught up, he noticed the vehicle was traveling at a higher rate of speed. A radar check indicated the vehicle was traveling 78 mph in a 65 mph area.

The pickup yielded to the right, and Trooper Barney made contact with the driver Nathaniel Paul Briscoe. He explained that he had stopped him for a taillight not working. Barney told Briscoe he would be back with him. He then went back to his patrol unit to check Briscoe’s driver’s license status and issue enforcement action.

As Trooper Barney sat back into his patrol unit, Briscoe left the scene of the traffic stop, traveling westbound on US-64. Barney initiated his siren and advised Troop J headquarters in Enid that the subject had fled the scene. Barney pursued Biscoe on US-64 into Woods County at speeds that did not exceed 60 mph.

Briscoe yielded a second time at US-64 and Baker Street in Woods County. Trooper Barney conducted a felony stop with the assistance of the Alva Police Department and placed Briscoe into custody. He asked Briscoe why he left the initial stop. Briscoe stated, “I thought you were going to follow me into town.”

Barney placed Briscoe into his patrol unit and conducted a search incident to arrest and was able to detect an odor of marijuana. A red backpack was located in the vehicle by Trooper Brock Morgan. The backpack contained multiple drug paraphernalia items, THC WAX (70.86% THC), rolling papers, lighters, a gold color grinder and a clear container with a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. After concluding the search, Barney transported Briscoe to the Woods County Jail to be booked in.

On Jan. 7 in Woods County, Nathaniel Paul Briscoe, 22, of Lake Charles, Louisiana, was charged with four misdemeanors: (1) obstructing an officer, (2) attempting to elude a police officer, (3) possession of controlled dangerous substance (marijuana) and (4) unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia.