While serving an arrest warrant on a rape charge, the Picayune Police Department uncovered illegal drugs at a Picayune residence on January 24, Jeremy Magri, assistant to the chief said.

“On Jan. 24, at approximately 7:01 a.m., officers were dispatched to the Criminal Justice Center (CJC) to meet with a complainant about an alleged rape,” Magri said. “Upon arrival, officers spoke with the complainant who stated that on Dec. 31,2013, she was at a friend’s residence located at 2316 Walker St. for a New Year’s Eve party.

“The complainant stated later that night everyone went to sleep and she fell asleep on the couch. The complainant alleged that approximately 3 in the morning, the suspect, identified as 33-year-old Kenny Gilmore, a resident of 2316 Walker St. in Picayune, woke her up and asked her if she wanted a massage. The complainant stated she told him no and tried to go back to sleep,” Magri said.

She then alleged that Gilmore then forced himself upon her and raped her, Magri said.

“The complainant stated that she was finally able to escape and get away from the residence,” Magri said.

The complainant then signed charges against Gilmore for rape. Shortly afterwards, a warrant was issued by a judge, for Gilmore’s arrest. Officers then went to his residence at 3:04 p.m. Jan. 14 to arrest Gilmore on the warrant, Magri said.

“Upon arrival officers knocked on the door several times and observed someone looking out the blinds of the front door,” Magri said. “Officers verbally announced they had a warrant for his arrest and told him to open the door, which he refused to do. After a brief negotiation, Gilmore finally opened door and was taken into custody for the warrant.”

Magri said that a second male, identified as Chris Magee, age 35 and residing at 1206 Fern Dr., Picayune, was sitting on sofa just inside the door.

“Officers could immediately smell the odors of both burnt marijuana and green marijuana inside the residence,” Magri said. “The officers then observed a wood ashtray sitting between Magee’s feet with several burnt, hand rolled cigarettes containing a green leafy substance, believed to be marijuana, between his feet. At this point Magee was taken into custody for possession of a controlled substance.”

Both subjects were transported to CJC, where they were booked into the jail, Magri said.

“Officers then obtained a search warrant for the residence during which they located a child’s book bag in the children’s bedroom closet. The bag contained a scale, glass cup, with white residue and a whisk, commonly used in production of cocaine,” Magri said. “They also located marijuana floating in a toilet, where it appeared they had flushed narcotics when officers initially attempted to make contact with Gilmore to serve arrest warrant.”

All evidence recovered at the scene was tagged and placed into evidence room.

Gilmore was additionally charged with possession of controlled substance and Magee was later released on a post-arrest release citation due to the winter storm Leon, Magri said.