ST. LANDRY PARISH NARCOTICS DETECTIVES SEIZE FIREARM & DRUGS
AFTER BRIEF STRUGGLE
ARRESTED:
Lawrence Christian Stelly, 22 years old
218 Magnolia Street
Opelousas, LA 70570
CHARGES:
PWITD Schedule I (Marijuana)
Transactions Involving Drug Offenses
Firearm in Presence of CDS
Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Resisting an Officer
Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz reports, “On March 2, 2026, our ever-vigilant Narcotics Detectives
conducted criminal patrol in the area of LA Hwy 182 north of Opelousas. A tan Buick sedan
was stopped on a traffic violation and pulled into the Piggly Wiggly parking lot. When a
Narcotics Detective approached the driver’s side of the Buick, the front seat passenger was
observed with an AR-15 pistol protruding from his pants. The passenger was given explicit
instructions to keep his hands away from the firearm, but refused to comply.” Sheriff Guidroz
continues, “The passenger was removed from the vehicle where a struggle ensued. After this
brief physical altercation, detectives took Lawrence Stelly into custody. Stelly had the
following items on his person:
Nearly one pound of marijuana,
One digital scale,
The AR-15 pistol with a 60-round magazine (filled to capacity),
$920.00 in U.S. currency.”
Sheriff Guidroz concludes, “Here we have an occupant of a vehicle, travelling with a fully-
loaded AR-15 pistol, drugs and currency. We can surmise his purpose, an illegal one, and his
ability to carry out significant death and destruction. The Narcotics Detectives are to be
commended; their swift, decisive and trained actions prevented serious injury to the suspect,
innocent bystanders and to themselves.”
Anyone with additional information about this crime is encouraged to call the St. Landry Parish Sheriff’s Office
at 337-948-6516.
You may also call Crime Stoppers at 337-948-TIPS, download the P3 app on your mobile device or simply dial
**TIPS on your mobile phone to tip. All calls are anonymous and you can earn a cash reward for information
leading to an arrest.
This is Sheriff Bobby J. Guidroz. All persons are presumed innocent
until proven guilty in a court of law.
