Two recent traffic stops by the Picayune Police Department resulted in the arrest of three individuals who were in possession of various controlled substances.
On Feb. 27, at 9:07 p.m. detectives observed a vehicle leave the roadway several times while traveling north on Beech Street, Assistant Chief Jeremy Magri said.
Detectives attempted to conduct a traffic stop, but the vehicle turned onto Westchester Drive, Magri said.
Despite continued attempts to conduct the stop, the vehicle traveled about a quarter mile on the road, before attempting to back into a driveway located at 119 Westchester Drive, Magri said.
As detectives exited their patrol cars, they gave verbal commands to the suspect to stop the vehicle, but the suspect refused to comply, Magri said.
Detectives then approached the vehicle, opening the driver’s side door, and asked the driver, later identified as Keith Lumpkin, 55, of that address, to exit the vehicle, Magri said.
While Lumpkin was exiting the vehicle, detectives observed a plastic bag in plain view on the driver’s seat, Magri said. The bag contained an off-white substance believed to be crack cocaine, he said.
During a search of the vehicle, detectives located a ball of steel wool, which is commonly used to smoke crack, under the driver’s seat, Magri said.
Lumpkin was then arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia, disorderly conduct failure to comply, careless driving and failure to yield to blue lights and sirens.
In a separate incident on Feb. 23, Picayune detectives observed a vehicle heading north on Beech Street at 1:59 p.m., Magri said. Detectives observed the vehicle cross the center line several times and leave the roadway, Magri said.
Detectives then conducted traffic stop at Beech Street and Goodyear Boulevard, Magri said.
Upon speaking with driver, identified as Allucius Crosby, 37, of 45 Collins Chaney, Greensburg, La., detectives asked Crosby to exit the vehicle, Magri said.
As Crosby opened the driver’s door, detectives observed an orange medication bottle inside door panel containing a crystal-like substance believed to be crystal methamphetamine. Detectives also observed a metal flask beside the medication bottle, Magri said.
Detectives then asked the passenger, later identified as Tara Baker, 30, of 36 Savannah Drive, Petal, to exit the vehicle, Magri said.
At this point, detectives conducted a search of Baker’s purse, locating two plastic bags containing a crystal-like substance believed to be crystal meth, six empty plastic bags containing crystal-like residue, a rolled up one dollar bill with a powdery substance indicating it may have been used to snort/inhale a controlled substance and seven syringes, Magri said.
Crosby was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, careless driving and possession of paraphernalia.
Baker was arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of paraphernalia, Magri said.