LOUISIANA — A Montgomery man was arrested Wednesday, February 4, after deputies with the Natchitoches Parish Sheriff’s Office responded to a report of a pickup truck in a ditch along Highway 9 near Lakeview School.
According to NPSO, deputies located the vehicle and found a man inside slumped over the center console. Deputies attempted to wake him but said he was initially unresponsive. Emergency medical services were called to the scene to assess the man for a possible medical condition.
While EMS personnel were conducting their assessment, deputies said narcotics were plainly visible on the man’s person. When he regained consciousness, deputies reported that he appeared disoriented and initially provided a false name.
Deputies said a search conducted during the medical assessment revealed approximately 37 grams of suspected methamphetamine, about 10 grams of suspected marijuana, and drug paraphernalia.
As EMS prepared to transport the man to a hospital, he identified himself as Edward Zumwalt, 52, of Montgomery. Deputies determined that Zumwalt was wanted by the 10th District Court for failure to appear in April and September 2025 on drug-related charges and a DWI case.
NPSO said Zumwalt later refused medical treatment and transport. He was arrested and booked into the Natchitoches Detention Center without incident.
Zumwalt was charged with careless operation of a vehicle, open container violation, possession of marijuana, possession of a Schedule II controlled dangerous substance (methamphetamine), second or subsequent offense, resisting an officer by giving a false name, possession of drug paraphernalia, and two counts of failure to appear in court.
He remains in the Natchitoches Detention Center. Deputies said the pickup truck was impounded and the suspected narcotics were sent to a crime lab for analysis.
