Texas fugitive arrested in Natchitoches with drugs and stolen vehicle

Disclaimer: All persons presumed innocent until proven guilty.

NATCHITOCHES, La. (KTAL/KMSS) – A Lafayette, Louisiana man wanted on drug and theft charges in Texas, was arrested Friday, July 3, 2026 in Natchitoches.

Deputies from the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office (NPSO) conducted a traffic stop on Martin Luther King Drive around 3:30 p.m. after spotting a stolen vehicle that had been reported by the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.

NPSO deputies confirmed 41-year-old Rufus Evans was driving the stolen pickup truck. According to Sheriff Stuart Wright, when deputies searched the vehicle they found illegal drugs and an AR-15 style semi-automatic rifle.

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Deputies arrested Evans and, during the investigation, discovered he was wanted by the Winkler County Sheriff’s Office in Kermit, Texas for Possession of Dangerous Drugs, stemming from an incident in October of 2025.

Evans was booked into the Natchitoches Parish Detention Center on a long list of charges including illegal possession of stolen things, and possession of marijuana and methamphetamine.

Evans is expected to be extradited to Texas. Additional charges are also pending through the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Office.

“This arrest demonstrates the outstanding cooperation that exists between law enforcement agencies across our state and nation,” said Sheriff Stuart Wright. “Every arrest like this makes our communities safer, and I commend our deputies for their professionalism, dedication, and commitment to protecting the citizens of Natchitoches Parish.”

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