Man arrested after Shreveport police find machine gun, narcotics during traffic stop
Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent unless proven guilty.
SHREVEPORT, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – Shreveport police patrolling Jewella Avenue recently made a traffic stop that resulted in the arrest of a young man.
Joseph Thomas, a juvenile, was arrested on Feb. 28 after officers with the Shreveport Police Department observed a vehicle abruptly turn without signaling. Police allege the vehicle had an improperly displayed license plate.
After performing a traffic stop, officers requested that the occupants of the vehicle step outside. Police then detected a strong marijuana scent, which gave them probable cause to search the vehicle.
The vehicle's occupants were detained in the back of a marked patrol vehicle while police searched and discovered AR-style pistols, one of which appeared to be modified with an Auto Sear to make it a fully automatic machine gun. Police also found what appeared to be marijuana, edibles, a digital scale, and Ziploc bags.
Thomas was arrested and faces multiple charges that include the illegal carrying of a weapon, possession of a machine gun, illegal possession of a handgun by a juvenile, and distribution of narcotics.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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