D.A. INVESTIGATOR FACES DRUG COUNTS

A District Attorney's Office investigator was arrested Sunday after police
pulled him over and found 80 ounces of the club drug GHB in his
government-issued car, police said.

James Kendrick, 30, 13688 Brown Road, Baker, was booked into Parish Prison
with possession of gamma hydroxybutyrate in excess of 400 grams with intent
to distribute, possession of steroids and possession of a firearm with
controlled dangerous substances, booking records show.

He was held on $100,000 bond, booking records show.

Police spokesman Cpl. Don Kelly said investigators got a tip that Kendrick
was dealing GHB, a popular club and rave party drug also used by some body
builders who say it improves their muscle development.

Detectives followed Kendrick on Sunday and saw what appeared to be a drug deal.

They pulled him over on Interstate 12 at Airline Highway about 6:30 p.m.,
Kelly said.

In his trunk of his car, which was issued to him by the District Attorney's
Office, police found four bottles of GHB, totaling 80 ounces or 2,091 grams.

They also found 10 milliliters of liquid steroids in the cigarette lighter
and a Glock 9 mm pistol between the front seats, Kelly said.

An affidavit of probable cause for Kendrick's arrest said Kendrick told
detectives where in his car to find the drugs after they stopped him.

District Attorney Doug Moreau said he fired Kendrick on Sunday after the
arrest.

He said Kendrick had worked for the office since 1997 and was assigned to
juvenile court.

Moreau said he believes further testing of the drug seized from Kendrick
showed the drug was gamma butyrolactone, or GBL, a precursor of GHB.