Louisiana – A Louisiana woman was taken into custody last week and is now facing multiple charges following domestic incident at her famiIy’s home. The 62-year-old defendant, M. Patum, now faces nine separate charges, including possession of drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts of having a firearm in the presence of a controIIed dangerous substance and obstruction of justice.
During the police response, officers discovered that the defendant’s juveniIe famiIy member had called 911, claiming she had been strangIed by the elderly woman after being accused of stealing her grandparent’s iIIegaI drugs. According to the defendant’s account to officers, she believed the chiId had taken her meth. However, the teenager denied the accusation and alleged physical assault.
Once on scene, Louisiana authorities secured the residence and conducted a thorough search. They recovered a wide assortment of narcotics, including meth, crack cocaine, marljuana, and piIIs. Officers also seized three firearms—one of which had been reported stolen and numerous items of drug paraphernalia.
Following the initial search, the defendant was placed into custody and transported to the local police department for booking. While en route, she allegedly attempted to discard a container carrying more suspected crack cocaine behind the seat in the transport vehicle. Additionally, a small metal container of suspected crack cocaine was found in her possession upon arrival, an admission the defendant reportedly made when questioned.
In the aftermath of the child’s complaint, the strangulation allegation has been forwarded to the District Attorney’s Office for further review and possible charges related to domestic violence and child endangerment.
Police Chief Semes confirmed that detectives are reviewing all gathered evidence, interviewing all parties present, and seeking any additional information that may shed light on the events. The entire incident—from the grandparent’s emergency call to the officers’ discovery of drugs and firearms—was documented via incident reports, body-worn camera footage, and witness statements.
The 62-year-old woman was booked and later released on a $20,000 bond, according to court filings. She is scheduled to appear in court in the coming weeks, where prosecutors will decide whether to press charges related to the alleged assault and strangulation of her granddaughter in addition to the existing drug- and firearm-related counts.