Narcotics detectives conducted an undercover operation in which three arrests were made and a vehicle was seized.
At 2:50 p.m. on April 13, undercover detectives set up a narcotics transaction with the suspect, later identified as Sandra Gonzales, 40, of 122 Fox Briar Court, Slidell, La. at a Nicholson gas station, Picayune Police Assistant Chief Jeremy Magri said.
When the detectives arrived, Gonzales exited the passenger side of the vehicle and walked up to one of the undercover detectives collected the money and went back to the car, Magri said.
Detectives then observed the driver, identified as Kesha Lemoine, 40, of 210 Long St. #1114, Slidell, La., hand Gonzales a clear bag of 10 Suboxone pills before walking back to the detective to finish the transaction.
At this time, additional undercover personnel observing the transaction surrounded the vehicle, identifying a third passenger, Mario Baughman, 42, of 150 Oakland Dr., Slidell La., in the back seat.
After Lemoine refused numerous commands to exit the vehicle, detectives were forced to physically remove her, Magri said.
Detectives conducted a search of the vehicle and discovered a clear bag containing 34 pills of Suboxone, a cut straw commonly used to ingest narcotics and another clear bag containing a single Suboxone pill in Lemoine’s purse, Magri said.
Gonzales was arrested for the sale of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance. Baughman was arrested for conspiracy to sell a controlled substance. Lemoine was arrested for sale of a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.
The maroon 2005 Cadillac involved in the case was seized during the operation, Magri said.