Lafayette duo allegedly found with loaded handguns, charged with dealing meth

A Lafayette man and woman were arrested on July 6 after police allegedly found them with 17.65 grams of methamphetamine, according to an affidavit filed by prosecutors.

A Lafayette police officer recognized Richard Patrick Ruhlander, 37, driving a vehicle and Jennifer E. Chadd, 44, in the passenger seat on North Ninth Street in Lafayette.

The officer knew Ruhlander possessed a suspended license and a traffic stop was initiated soon afterward in a driveway on Burnett Road, the affidavit says. The vehicle was registered to Chadd in the passenger seat. Officers searched the vehicle after a drug detection K-9 alerted the presence of a narcotic odor coming from it.

Police allegedly found a backpack with paperwork belonging to Ruhlander inside, two bags full of a crystalline substance that later tested with a positive result as methamphetamine, weighing 17.65 grams, a digital scale, razor blades and other paraphernalia.

Boxes of 9mm and .380 ammunition were also found inside the backpack, the affidavit says.

A key on Chadd’s key ring allegedly unlocked a safe underneath the passenger seat that contained two loaded handguns. One was traced to a gun reported stolen from a vehicle on May 2.

According to police, Chadd claimed she bought the stolen handgun from someone she would not identify in March or April.

Ruhlander and Chadd were allegedly found with substantial amounts of cash.

Ruhlander faces charges of dealing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia and driving with a suspended license.

His criminal record shows he also faces pending charges of unlawful carrying of a handgun, intimidation with a deadly weapon and pointing a firearm.

Since 2014, he has been convicted of possession of a synthetic drug, possession of methamphetamine twice, driving with a suspended license and escape.

Chadd faces charges of dealing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia and theft.

At the initial hearing on Tuesday, Ruhlander told the court he had a seizure 15 minutes before his arrival. His hearing will continue Tuesday at 2 p.m.