Victor Wooten, 30, of Pasadena Harris County, Texas was arrested Saturday, December 17, 2022, during a stolen vehicle investigation in which illegal drugs were discovered.
On Saturday, December 17, 2022, about 11 a.m., deputies attempted to initiate a traffic stop after a notification of a vehicle stolen from Texas traveling eastbound on Airline Highway towards LaPlace. The driver, later identified as Wooten, failed to stop and continued to travel at a high rate of speed and recklessly through red lights on Airline Highway. Eventually, Wooten turned into the parking lot at Home Depot. In the parking lot, deputies observed items being thrown from the passenger window of the vehicle as the driver continued to flee. Wooten exited the parking lot and traveled north at a high rate on U.S. 51. Shortly after, Wooten stopped the vehicle in the parking lot of a gas station on U.S. 51. He exited the vehicle, and officers detained him.
Shortly after, officers returned to the parking lot. Upon arrival, officers located several citizens who witnessed the incident and remained on scene to safeguard the items thrown out of the window. Officers collected the items which includes several bags of marijuana, various MDMA pills, Adderall pills, Oxycodone pills, cocaine, and a digital scale.
“We are grateful to these citizens who maintained visual on the drugs thrown out of the vehicle,” Sheriff Mike Tregre said. “These witnesses were cooperative and helpful. We appreciate their effort in helping officers secure this evidence.”
Wooten was charged with reckless operation of a vehicle (misd); operating a vehicle with suspended license; no license issued; littering; illegal possession of stolen things (felony); aggravated flight from an officer by vehicle (felony); possession with intent to distribute schedule II CDS; obstruction of justice – tampering with evidence (felony); prohibited acts; all schedules; prohibited acts, drug paraphernalia (misd); possession with intent to distribute marijuana (felony); possession with intent to distribute MDMA (felony); possession with intent to distribute schedule II CDS; possession with intent to distribute schedule II CDS.
Wooten is being held in custody in lieu of a $64,000 bond.