Two stops conducted by Picayune Police officers earlier this month found suspects with controlled substances in their possession.
The first began on May 13, when an officer observed a vehicle traveling at 60 miles per hour in a 45 zone, prompting a stop, said Assistant Chief Jeremy Magri.
As the officer attempted to have the driver stop by turning on the lights, the driver failed to pull over, Magri said.
The driver, later identified as 25-year-old Dorothy Ann Harris, of 910 Cayten St., proceeded to make three turns without the use of a signal before stopping at her home, Magri said.
The officer called for backup and then spoke with Harris, noting that two small children were in the vehicle with her, Magri said. After backup arrived the children were released to her boyfriend and a search of the vehicle was conducted, where officers found a vile containing a substance suspected to be methamphetamine, 25 clonazepam and one and half xanax pills, Magri said.
Harris was charged with misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, felony possession of a controlled substance, failure to yield to blue lights and three counts of no turn signal, Magri said.
During another case that occurred on May 9, officers were sent to the area of Fourth Street in reference to reports of a suspicious vehicle, Magri said.
The vehicle in question was located and a stop conducted, where officers came into contact with the driver, 19-year-old Rodney Rodrick Allen of 615 East Fourth Street, and his passenger, 23-year-old Jeremy Cyntear Tuner of 12362 White Oak Dr., Gulfport, Magri said.
Both were asked to exit the vehicle. During the stop it was discovered that Allen’s driver’s license was suspended, leading him to be taken into custody, Magri said.
During a search of the vehicle the officers found a bag containing a substance suspected to be marijuana, seven lortab pills and 41 xanax pills, Magri said.
Since neither suspect claimed ownership of the controlled substances, both were charged with possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle and two counts of possession of a controlled substance, Magri said.
Allen was additionally charged with driving while license suspended and switched tag, Magri said.