While conducting a safety checkpoint during the Memorial Day weekend, Picayune Police officers arrested three people for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, said Assistant Chief Jeremy Magri.

The officers conducted the checkpoint at North Beech Street at the Hobolochitto Bridge on May 24, Magri said. At approximately 12:12 a.m., a vehicle approached the checkpoint where the officer spoke with the driver, identified as a17-year-old juvenile.

Magri said the officer detected the smell of burnt marijuana coming from vehicle, prompting him to have the vehicle pull to the side of the road.

As the juvenile exited the vehicle, the officer observed a jar containing numerous plastic baggies commonly used to package narcotics for resale on the passenger side rear floorboard, Magri said.

The officer then asked the other passengers identified as Jordan Fairconetue, 21, of 27 S. Ridge Lane, in Carriere; Devan Brantley, 22, of 608 York St., in Picayune; and Aaron Lossett, 19, of 740 Sycamore Rd., in Carriere, to exit the vehicle, Magri said.

Officers then conducted a search of the vehicle, in which they recovered four plastic bags containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana beneath passenger seat, Magri said.

All four suspects were taken into custody for possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, Magri said.

The adults were booked and incarcerated at the Criminal Justice Center, while the juvenile was booked and released into custody of his father, Magri said.

Checkpoints are tools the department uses to encourage safe driving over holiday weekends.

“We had an active weekend with arrests and citations from our checkpoints,” Magri said. “We do not have totals compiled from reports yet, but we believe the safety checkpoints are definitely a deterrent to impaired driving. It gives people encouragement to either have a designated driver or drive responsibly.”