A routine traffic stop In Panama over the weekend resulted in the arrest of a Poteau city councilman on multiple charges according to multiple sources in Leflore County.
The Panama police executed a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Joe David White for driving on the shoulder and when officers ran his license they discovered a warrant out of Heavener on another traffic violation.
The warrant allowed police to take White into custody and execute a search on his vehicle. During the subsequent search officers located a glass pipe which field tested positive for methamphetamine. In addition, the police discovered a loaded firearm but White was unable to produce a carry permit.
White was transported to the LeFlore County Detention Center and booked on charges of possession of a controlled and dangerous substance — methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and transporting a loaded firearm.
A call to the LeFlore County Detention Center on Monday afternoon for an inquiry about whether White had been released on bail as the female detention center officer on duty said she wasn’t authorized to release any information. The officer said a call would have to be made to the jail between the hours of 8 a.m. to 4 p.m on Tuesday.
This is a breaking and developing story and more details will be released when someone with the proper authority to release public information in contacted.
