Natchitoches, LA (5/7/2024) – A routine traffic stop conducted by Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Deputies near Natchitoches has resulted in the arrest of a Winn Parish man on drug and felony weapon charges, announced Natchitoches Parish Sheriff Stuart Wright.
The incident unfolded on Friday evening, May 3, 2024, at approximately 11:49 pm, when deputies from the NPSO Patrol Operations Bureau were patrolling La. Hwy 6 East near Natchitoches. They halted a 2000 Honda passenger car for a traffic violation.
The operator of the vehicle was identified as 20-year-old Alexander Malik Perry of Winnfield, La. During the traffic stop, deputies noticed items in plain view inside the vehicle, raising suspicion of criminal activity.
A subsequent search of the vehicle led to the discovery and seizure of two small bags containing suspected marijuana, along with a Glock 19 semi-automatic handgun. Of particular concern was the modification observed on the Glock handgun, which was equipped with a “Glock Switch” or “Auto Sears” conversion kit and a 50-round fully loaded magazine.
The “Glock Switch” or “Auto Sears” conversion kit, about the size of a nickel and mostly imported from China, has the capability to transform a semi-automatic handgun into an automatic firearm capable of firing 1100-1200 rounds per minute. Such devices, when illegally installed on handguns and semi-automatic rifles, pose a significant threat to public safety and law enforcement.
Individuals charged with felony offenses for possession of modified weapons could face up to 10 years in federal prison.
Alexander Malik Perry was transported and booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center, facing charges of Possession of CDS I Marijuana and Unlawful Handling of a Machine Gun.
The Natchitoches Multi-Jurisdictional Drug Task Force, in collaboration with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, is actively involved in the investigation.
Perry remains in the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center awaiting bond as of the time of publishing this article. Deputies C. Halliburton and T. Hortman were credited with making the arrest.
For those interested in learning more about the “Glock Switch,” the NPSO provided a YouTube link for a demonstration.
It is important to note that all persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.