The Picayune Police Department responded to a larceny complaint which led to arrests for possession of controlled substances and child neglect, said Jeremy Magri, assistant to the chief.

“On Jan. 29, at 8:07 a.m., officers were dispatched to the Criminal Justice Center (CJC) in reference to a larceny complaint,” Magri said. “Upon arrival the officers spoke with the complainant who stated he had stayed at a friends house, with the location being 201 Teague St. Apartment 4, in Picayune, and had awakened that morning to discover his wallet was missing from his pants. He requested the officers to go with him to the apartment to recover his wallet.”

Upon arrival at the residence, officers made contact with 23-year-old Skylar Branton, Magri said. While speaking with Branton at the door they could smell the odor of burnt marijuana coming from the residence, he continued.

“Officers then entered the residence where they observed Branton’s two children ages 3-years-old and 8-months-old, as well as 28-year-old Toni Keen of the same address,” Magri said. “While speaking with Branton, the officers observed the residence was in a very poor and unsafe condition for the two juvenile children. An officer observed rotting food in plates, pots and Tupperware containers in the sink, on the counter and inside the refrigerator. There were also dirty clothes throughout the apartment.”

The department of human services was notified and responded to the scene. Upon arrival and assessment of the apartment, both juveniles were taken into custody, Magri said.

“While in the apartment, officers uncovered a box containing a green leafy substance, believed to be marijuana and three pipes used to smoke marijuana which contained burnt residue inside of them,” Magri said. “They also recovered a digital scale and a grinder containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana in the grinder, in Toni Keen’s purse, in addition to several used hypodermic syringe needles placed inside of a prescription pill bottle. They also located a pack of cigarettes containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana.”

As they continued to search the residence, they discovered more amounts of suspicious substance in Branton’s bedroom, Magri said.

“They also located a plastic baggie containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana under the mattress in Branton’s bedroom that she shares with the children,” Magri said.

At this time officers arrested Branton for possession of controlled substance and child neglect times two. They also arrested Keen for possession of controlled substance, Magri said. They were both transported to the CJC and booked on said charges.

Magri said that the wallet was recovered at the scene but the complainant did not press charges.