Undercover detectives with the Picayune Police Department recently conduced a week-long operation that netted eight suspects.
Operation Spring Cleaning began May 10, when undercover detectives set up surveillance at a local business on Highway 43 South at 9:10 a.m. During the operation, undercover personnel spoke with Justin Michael Garrett, 29, of 52 Barty Bazor Road, Poplarville. Garrett allegedly sold the detective a medication bottle containing six yellow pills believed to be Clonazepam, a schedule IV narcotic, according to a departmental release states.
The pills were later identified as Cyclobenzaprine, a muscle stimulant. Garrett was arrested for false representation of a controlled substance, the release.
That same day at 3:11 p.m., detectives set up surveillance at a local bar after receiving numerous community complaints the sale and usage of drugs, the release states.
Undercover personnel entered the bar and made contact with a suspect, identified as Ralf “Red” Richard Eichelsdoerfer, 47, of 302 Edgewood Drive, Carriere, according to the release.
Outside, detectives observed the undercover detective and Eichelsdoerfer exit the bar and walk to Eichelsdoerfer’s red Dodge truck where he allegedly sold the detective two pills identified as Hydrocodone, the release states. As Eichelsdoerfer walked back into the bar, he was detained.
Detectives searched the red truck and located a pill bottle containing four additional Hydrocodone pills. Eichelsdoerfer was arrested for sale of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, the release states.
At 4:57 p.m. on May 15, detectives watching a business on Sycamore Road saw two suspects later arrive on scene, identified as Gregory Samuel Cook, 56, of 101 Oak Point Drive, and Melissa Deverall Kent, 33, of 17 Garden District, in a 2000 Ford Explorer, according to a departmental release.
As detectives attempted to speak to them, the suspects fled. Detectives pursued the suspects north on George Mitchell Road, observing the suspects to allegedly throw several clear plastic bags out the window believed to contain heroin, the release states.
The vehicle came to a sudden stop near H.K. Stockstill Road and the suspects were detained without incident. Upon searching Cook’s person, detectives located $475 and one Suboxone pill in his wallet. Inside the vehicle, detectives found a set of digital scales, which contained a crystal-like residue and several syringes. They also located two plastic bags containing a brown powdered substance believed to be heroin and a plastic bag containing a crystal-like substance, the release states.
Cook and Kent were arrested for possession of a controlled substance (heroin) with intent to distribute within 1,500 feet of a school or church, possession of a controlled substance (methamphetamine) with intent to distribute within 1,500 feet of a school or church, conspiracy to sell a controlled substance with intent to distribute within 1,500 feet of a school or church (heroin) and felony tampering of physical evidence. Cook was also arrested for failure to stop a motor vehicle when an officer signals and possession of a controlled substance. Kent was also arrested for possession of paraphernalia. The vehicle and cash were seized, according to the release.
At 6:29 p.m. that day, detectives continued the operation at a business on Lakeshore Drive. Undercover personnel made contact with Tristian A. Drain, 20, of 4163 Highway 43 North, who allegedly gave the detective a plastic bag containing 10 pills inscribed with “ZC02” in exchange for $300, a release states.
The pills were believed to be Norco 10 mg, a schedule II narcotic, but were later identified as Promethazine, nausea medication, according to the release. Drain was arrested for false representation of a controlled substance.
Two days later, undercover detectives went to a business on East Canal Street at 9:12 a.m. to speak with Justin Blake Franklin, 28, of 63 Sweet Birch Drive, Carriere, who allegedly handed the detective a plastic bag containing 15 orange pills identified as Adderall, a schedule II narcotic. Franklin was detained while detectives searched his 2005 Chevrolet Silverado, locating a medication bottle containing 24 and a half pills identified as Adderall and a straw, which contained a powdered substance, the release states.
Detectives also located several lock picking kits, door and window breaking tools commonly used for burglaries, according to the release. Franklin was arrested for sale of a controlled substance (Adderall) within 1,500 feet of a school or church, possession of a controlled substance (Adderall) within 1,500 feet of a school or church, two counts of conspiracy to sell a controlled substance (Adderall) within 1,500 feet of a school or church, possession of burglary tools and possession of paraphernalia. The vehicle was also seized, the release states.
Also on May 17, detectives arrested Christopher Robert Webb, 54, of 1678 Provost Circle, at 10:43 a.m. after he allegedly sold 10 Xanax, a schedule IV narcotic, and 10 Norco, a schedule II narcotic, to an undercover detective. Webb was arrested for two counts conspiracy to sell a controlled substance (Norco and Xanax) within 1,500 feet of a school or church, according to the release.
Detectives concluded Operation Spring Cleaning at 11:07 a.m. that day after undercover personnel attempted to exchange $100 for 10 Norco pills with a suspect, identified as Rebecca Breaux Freitas, 60, of 202 Rollingwood Drive, Carriere.
After being handed the cash, Freitas attempted to flee on foot inside a business on Highway 11 where she was pursued and detained by detectives. Freitas was arrested for conspiracy to sell a controlled substance (Norco) within 1,500 feet of a school or church.