PORT ALLEN — A traffic stop at Rivault Park Sunday night led to a foot pursuit through a Port Allen neighborhood, ending with an arrest on Avenue G as eight law enforcement vehicles converged on the area.

A Port Allen Police officer and two West Baton Rouge Parish Sheriff's Office deputies were stationed at Rivault Park just before 10 p.m. January 4 when they observed a vehicle enter the park and drive toward the rear of the property. As the vehicle passed, officers detected the smell of marijuana, prompting them to make contact with the occupants, according to Port Allen Police Chief Donovan Mitchell.

When officers approached, a female passenger ran from a nearby building toward the vehicle, raising suspicion. As a deputy attempted to detain the male driver, the man fled on foot.

Officers pursued the suspect through the area near AutoZone and into a nearby neighborhood on Avenue G, where he was apprehended several minutes later.

"WBRSO assisted Port Allen PD on a traffic stop on Sunday, January 4, 2026 just before 10 PM at Rivault Park," said WBRSO Sergeant Landon Groger. "During this stop, a male subject fled from the vehicle on foot who was caught several minutes after. The suspect was turned over to PAPD."

Blue and red lights filled the street as officers continued searching the area until approximately 11:15 p.m., with flashlight beams sweeping across yards in the residential neighborhood.

A 23-year-old man was booked into the West Baton Rouge Parish jail at 1:13 a.m. January 5 on charges of possession of Schedule I marijuana and an active warrant for theft.

"That's what I expect from my guys, being vigilant and being seen and jumping to what they need to do if they see something," Mitchell said. "I want us to be safe. That's the biggest thing."

The response drew praise from residents on the Port Allen and Ward 3 neighborhood watch page.