Picayune Police detectives arrested two people in separate cases for drug related offenses.
On March 8, at 3:01 p.m., narcotics detectives responded to 101 Elm Street after receiving a tip that drugs were kept in a van parked in the yard, Assistant Chief Jeremy Magri said.
Detectives knocked on the front door and spoke with Anthony Perkins, 50, of 53 Shirley Wise Road, Carriere, Magri said.
While speaking with Perkins, detectives smelled a strong odor of what they believed to be marijuana coming from inside the residence, Magri said.
Detectives then asked Perkins step from the residence and walk to the van parked in the yard. While at the vehicle, detectives could smell strong odor of what was believed to be marijuana coming from inside the van, Magri said.
They then observed, in plain view, an open lock box lying on the floorboard of the front passenger side containing several bags of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana, Magri said.
At this time, a uniformed officer arrived on scene and observed Perkins clenching something in his hand, Magri said.
From his hand, officers recovered a plastic bag containing a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine, Magri said.
At this time, detectives secured a search warrant for the property. They then recovered numerous bags of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana from the van and three plastic bags containing a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine, Magri said.
During a search of the residence, detectives recovered a plastic bag containing a crystal like substance believed to be methamphetamine in the living room, a box containing plastic bags on the kitchen counter, which are commonly used for packaging narcotics for sale, a digital scale in the bathroom and two bags of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana in the toilet, Magri said.
Detectives also seized $1,162 in cash, Magri said.
Perkins was then arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute within 1,500 feet of a school or church, and tampering with physical evidence, Magri said.
In total, detectives recovered about two pounds of marijuana and approximately 17.5 grams of methamphetamine, Magri said.
In a separate incident on March 6, officers conducted a traffic stop just after midnight on Highway 11 near Hide-A-Way Lake after the driver of a vehicle allegedly failed to dim the headlights, Magri said.
Upon speaking with the driver, identified as Larry Bell, 64, of 2316 Hampton Drive, Harvey, Louisiana, officers could allegedly smell an intoxicating beverage on his breath, Magri said.
Officers also observed an ice chest on passenger floorboard containing beer.
While speaking with Bell, officers noticed he had dilated, bloodshot and glassy eyes and was leaning against the vehicle to keep his balance, Magri said.
Bell was wearing a fanny pack, which he granted officers permission to search, Magri said.
Inside, officers located a clear plastic bag containing a white powdery substance believed to be cocaine and bag containing a white rock-like substance believed to be crack cocaine, Magri said.
Bell submitted to several field sobriety tests, after which he was taken into custody. A search of his vehicle located two hand-rolled cigarettes containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana near the center console, Magri said.
The officers asked Bell to submit to a blood test, which he refused. He was then arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle, DUI refused test and failure to dim headlights, Magri said.