PICAYUNE —
Officers with the Picayune Police Department seized about 55 pounds of marijuana Wednesday afternoon in a drug bust on South Blanks Avenue.
Capt. Chad Dorn said officers became aware of the illegal activity after community complaints were made to the department that drug transactions appeared to be taking place near 402 S. Blanks Ave.
Patrol officers watched the area that day, monitoring traffic coming in and out of the area. The evidence collected during the surveillance operation allowed investigators to secure a search warrant, which was served Wednesday afternoon.
“This is the result of patrol and investigations working together,” said Chief Bryan Dawsey.
Nothing was found inside the home during the search, so investigators began a search outside the rear of the residence, an area that included two old vehicles alleged to contain narcotics, Dorn said. He said while the investigators were searching the old vehicles, loud rustling noises could be heard in the tree line behind the house and then two suspects could be seen running across the street between houses.
A short pursuit ended with both suspects, 37-year-old Reginald Berry, of 402 S. Blanks Ave., and 25-year-old Justin Waller of 230 S. Abrams Ave., being taken into custody on South Abrams Avenue, Dorn said.
Investigators then searched the wooded area and found two large containers with about 55 pounds of marijuana inside. Dorn said the estimated street value of the controlled substance is about $44,000.
It appeared that the suspects were selling the marijuana from the wood line behind the South Blanks home. Piles of empty beer bottles, along with what appeared to be a makeshift camp site, were seen in a tour of the area inside the woods.
Dorn said officers also found plastic baggies and a couple of scales in their search of the area.
Berry and Waller were both charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute within 1,500 feet of a school or church, Dorn said.
“This is a continuation of the efforts of all the officers of the police department to rid the community of drugs and drug dealers,” said Dawsey in a written statement. “If you are a drug dealer in our community we are coming after you. We will continue this fight and our strong stance against drugs in our community to make this city a safer place to live for all of its citizens.”
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Picayune Police officers and investigators made a drug bust on South Blanks Avenue Wednesday afternoon, confiscating about 55 pounds of marijuana. Above, from left James Bolton, Seth Ledet and Chief Bryan Dawsey survey the large amount of marijuana found in the bust. At right is the collection of junk found in the woods is the suspected location where marijuana was being sold. Jeremy Pittari
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