Son of owner of club where three teens killed booked on dope, gun charges

The 21-year-old son of a club where a shooting in March killed three teenagers was arrested Tuesday morning on several weapons and narcotics charges by Baker police.
According to an affidavit of probable cause, John Mitchell, 21, of 4408 Wimbish Drive, in Baker, was charged with possession of stolen firearms and possession with intent to distribute marijuana charges, among others. He is the son of Hazel Mitchell, owner of Baker Civic Club.
About 10 a.m. on April 29, a Baker Police officer conducted a traffic stop of a motorist who had committed a lane violation, according to an affidavit of probable cause.
While making the stop, the officer discovered the driver to be John Mitchell, 21, of 4408 Wimbish Drive in Baker, an individual that Baker Police have been investigating on suspicion of selling marijuana out of his home.
During the traffic stop at Main Street (La. Hwy. 19) and Lavey Lane, Mitchell told the officer that there might be marijuana in his vehicle.
After obtaining consent to search Mitchell's car, the officer found a partially smoked marijuana cigar.
Mitchell was placed under arrest for possession of marijuana.
The officer then advised Mitchell about the numerous complaints that have been made against him of frequent vehicle and foot traffic to and from his Wimbish Drive residence, a home he shares with his mother.
According to the affidavit, Mitchell admitted that he was a marijuana smoker and that he "randomly sold marijuana from his residence."
He was asked if there was any marijuana currently at his residence, to which Mitchell replied, "Yes." He also told the officer that a small amount was located there.
After being asked for consent to search the home, Mitchell agreed and signed a searches and seizures form.
He was transported to his home where police spoke with his mother, Hazel Mitchell, prior to executing the search. She also granted the detectives consent by signing the same search and seizure form.
Detectives then entered the residence and began a search of the home.
While executing their search, Baker detectives found marijuana grinders on the top of a dresser in Mitchell’s room as well as several quart-sized packages of marijuana weighing 249 grams inside the dresser drawers.
They also found two handguns - a RUGER Revolver .357 Magnum and a TAURUS .9mm handgun. Both firearms have been reported stolen. The revolver from an East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office jurisdiction and the handgun from a Baton Rouge City Police jurisdiction.
Continuing their search, detectives also found a digital scale with marijuana residue on top of it also in Mitchell’s room.
During an interview at Baker Police headquarters, Mitchell told the detectives that had been selling marijuana for the past couple of months to pay his bills, which consist his car note, car insurance, cell phone bill and food.
According the affidavit of probably cause, Mitchell also told police that he purchased the firearms from a guy off the street and he believed the guns were stolen. The affidavit states that Mitchell said he purchased the guns so that he could "protect his family."
Mitchell admitted that he mostly used his car to transport and sell the marijuana but that he seldom used his residence, the affidavit states.
Mitchell was transported and booked into the East Baton Rouge Parish Prison on two counts each of possession of stolen firearms and possession of stolen firearms in the presence of a controlled dangerous substance and one count each of possession with intent to distribute Schedule I (marijuana) and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The Baker Civic Club was the scene of a shooting on Mar. 28 where three teens died and one was injured.
Hazel Mitchell claims the arrest of her son was in retaliation to a feud between her and Baker Police Chief Mike Knaps.
Knaps has said in the weeks following the shooting, that he tried to get Mitchell to cancel the birthday party for concerns over security by contacting a former member of the Baker Civic Club.
Mitchell claims no attempts were made to contact her prior to the party.
"We continue to work around the clock to remove these drugs and illegal and stolen weapons off our streets!" said Chief Knaps.
Knaps said that Hazel Mitchell did not know her son was a drug dealer nor that he was dealing drugs from her residence.