N.O. man arrested with 34 grams of cocaine and $1,526 cash

A portion of clear plastic hanging from inside a gas tank hatch tipped off a St. Bernard Parish sheriff’s deputy that something was wrong.

A New Orleans man was arrested in Chalmette while driving a vehicle with a large amount of powdered cocaine in two plastic bags concealed in the gasoline tank hatch, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

Charles Milton, 34, is being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond set at $65,000. He was booked with possession of 34 grams of cocaine with intent to distribute, with improper display of a license plate and with driving on a suspended driver’s license.

Dep. Sheriff Dustin Gould spotted Milton driving west on West Judge Perez Drive about 8 p.m. on Jan. 5, with an improper license plate displayed, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

When stopped, Milton couldn’t provide the officer with a valid driver’s license and it was learned his license was suspended.

Then Gould spotted a portion of clear plastic hanging from inside the car’s gasoline tank hatch, the sheriff said. When he opened the hatch he saw two clear plastic bags containing an off-white powdered substance which tested positive for cocaine.

The officer also found $1,526 in cash in the vehicle.

Milton was also questioned by officers from the Special Investigations Division and admitted the cocaine was his and said he had purchased it and intended to re-sell it, Sheriff Pohlmann said.