PRESS RELEASE — On Tuesday, March 8, 2016 Detectives with the Orange Police Department along with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office conducted a traffic stop along Interstate 10 service road in the area of Adams Bayou and MLK in Orange.

Officers observed a black in color Dodge Charger bearing Louisiana License plates fail to maintain a single marked lane. During the traffic stop the driver was identified as Lauren Leigh Courmier, a 34 year old white female from Vinton, Louisiana.

Investigators noticed that the driver was nervous and made movements around the cab of the vehicle. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed approximately 28 grams of a clear crystal like substance that Investigators recognized as methamphetamine.

Courmier was arrested for possession of a controlled substance Felony 2 and transported to the Orange County Sheriff’s Correctional Facility for booking.  She was arraigned by 128^th District Court Judge Courtney Arkeen and Bond was set at $100,000.

Courmier was previously arrested on November 16, 2015 for Possession of a Controlled Substance and is currently out on Bond for that offense. Judge Arkeen had originally set bond at $300,000 for that charge but later lowered it to $50,000 so that Courmier was able to bond out of jail. Since this arrest, Judge Arkeen increased the bond back to $300,000 on the November 2015 case.

Lauren Courmier remains in the Orange County Correctional Facility on bonds totally $400,000.

Orange County Sheriff Keith Merritt said he will continue to utilize all of his available resources, including the assistance of other law enforcement agencies, to help rid Orange County of illegal drugs. If you have any information about illegal drug activities please call Crime Stoppers of Southeast Texas at 833-TIPS. You will remain anonymous and could earn a cash reward for your information.