Kenner cab driver arrested with $2,100 in high-grade marijuana after crashing cab into a sheriff’s vehicle as he tried to flee, causing $5,000 damage; Also, 2 teens on stolen cycle lead deputies on 20-minute chase

Lanny “June” Williams,booked in St. Bernard with possession with intent to sell high-grade marijuana after crashing his cab into a sheriff’s car.

About $2,100 worth of high-grade marijuana seized in Williams’ arrest.

St. bernard Parish sheriff’s car damaged when Williams crashed into it trying to flee

A cab driver from Kenner was arrested in Chalmette on Feb. 22 with $2,100 in high-grade marijuana after he crashed his cab into a sheriff’s vehicle while trying to flee narcotics agents, causing $5,000 damage to the sheriff’s car, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Lanny “June’’ Williams, 45, came to a location in a parking lot on Paris Road in mid-afternoon, where narcotics agents who believed he was delivering high-grade marijuana closed in on Williams’ cab.

Williams accelerated in an effort to flee when he saw police and intentionally crashed into the front end of a marked sheriff’s unit, then continued to drive before stalling in a large area of mud and water, the sheriff said.

Williams, who had thrown a large, clear bag of vegetable matter from his car before he stalled, tried to run away when he couldn’t drive further but was quickly caught by agents.

Sheriff Pohlmann said no one was injured when the sheriff’s car was hit and the damage was estimated at $5,000.

The bag the suspect threw from his cab contained just under one-quarter pound of high-grade marijuana, worth more than $2,100 on the streets, authorities said.

Williams has an extensive criminal record including convictions for aggravated assault and illegal carrying of a firearm.

He was booked with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, attempted murder of a police officer for intentionally striking the sheriff’s vehicle and aggravated criminal damage to the vehicle he crashed into. Williams was also booked with aggravated flight from police and resisting arrest. No bond had been set pending an appearance by Williams before a judge.

In an unrelated arrest, Izeah White, 17, of Chalmette and a 15-year-old Chalmette girl were arrested Feb. 21 about 5:30 p.m. after leading sheriff’s deputies on about a 20-minute chase in Meraux and Violet as they fled on a stolen motorcycle, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

White, 3212 Dauterive Drive, was booked with theft of a motorcycle and he and the juvenile, whose name wasn’t released, were both booked with possession of stolen property and probation violation. Sheriff;s deputies followed them to the top of the Mississippi River levee behind a residence in the 4600 block of East St. Bernard Highway. They were initially spotted on the stolen cycle on East Judge Perez Drive.

A Chalmette man reported earlier that day that his motorcycle was missing from the backyard of his residence.

When the pair were caught, the victim identified his property and identified White as the man he saw acting suspiciously near his home the afternoon before his motorcycle was stolen.

White initially said he had bought the cycle, then said he found it and finally admitted he stole it from a Chalmette residence, the sheriff said.

White, also booked with flight from an officer, is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of $40,000 bond.

The girl was taken to the Juvenile Detention Center.