The St. Charles Parish Sheriff’s Office has arrested a homeless couple, who have been on the run since 2007, in connection with the department’s 11-month narcotics investigation, “Operation Sleigh Ride.”
Kristy Matherne, 26, and Keith Matherne, 32, were booked and charged with distribution of carisoprodol, a skeletal muscle relaxant, on Dec. 29 after an anonymous tip informed police on the pair’s whereabouts, said sheriff’s office spokesperson Sgt. Dwayne LaGrange.
“The original case against these two dates back to 2007,” he said. “And at that time the Mathernes had a physical address, but at the time of arrest, they claimed to be homeless.”
LaGrange adds that the lead the department received stated that the couple would be entering the parish to make a drug deal.
“Our deputies followed the information they were given and made the arrest in the 1800 block of River Road in Montz,” he said.
The drug round-up, which began Dec. 15, was the result of an undercover investigation by the Special Investigations Division of the sheriff’s office into illegal drug sales throughout the parish.
The investigation focused on typical street drugs such as marijuana and cocaine, and also targeted commonly-abused prescription medication.
Sheriff Greg Champagne said that many of those arrested in the first sweep for the distribution of prescription medication lived in the New Sarpy/Norco area, including a 74-year-old woman.
The drugs sold to undercover officers during this operation include marijuana, cocaine, MDMA (Ecstasy), Carisoprodol, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Alprazolam, Diazepam and even a small amount of Heroin.
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