Routine patrol efforts by narcotics detectives with the Picayune Police Department led to the discovery of illegal drugs in two separate cases.

According to a press release from the department, detectives on patrol on March 5, saw a 2002 Monte Carlo without a license plate pull into a business near South Main Street.

In response, a stop was conducted. While conducting the stop,  detectives saw Kenneth Rene Williams, 24, 400 South Blanks Ave., exit the vehicle and flee on foot to a nearby wooded area. The driver, Kayun Markel Pittman, 23, 111 Constance St., Nicholson, was detained by one of the detectives, while the other detective pursued Williams, the release states. The pursuit continued through the woods over a barbed wire fence and through a field until the officer caught up with Williams, who was attempting to hide at a nearby home.

A search of Williams and the area where he fled located a glass jar containing a substance suspected to be hydroponic marijuana. A search of the vehicle located a set of digital scales, empty plastic bags and a loaded handgun, the release states.

Pittman was arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute while in possession of a firearm, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, hindering prosecution, disorderly conduct failure to comply, no tag, expired driver’s license, no insurance and possession of paraphernalia, the release states.

Williams was arrested for disorderly conduct failure to comply, resisting arrest by fleeing, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute while in possession of a firearm, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and possession of paraphernalia, according to the release.

A separate case worked on March 8, led to the arrest of two more suspects for drug related offenses.

The release states that detectives on patrol saw a Chevrolet Traverse run a stop sign, leading to a traffic stop. Detectives then asked for the proper identification from the driver, Kelly Ann Jenkins, 53, 28121 Dusty Lane, Picayune, and from the passenger, Daryl Wayne Jenkins, 34 of 7487 East Cypress Drive, Perkinston.

While speaking with the occupants, the detective noticed Daryl Jenkins was holding a lighter and a glass pipe containing a substance suspected to be methamphetamine, prompting them to escort him out of the vehicle when he decline several requests to do so, the release states. A subsequent search of his person located a knife on his hip.

A check of his record found that Daryl Jenkins had a prior conviction, resulting in his arrest for possession of a weapon by a convicted felon in addition to being arrested for possession of paraphernalia.

A search of the vehicle found another lighter on the front floorboard of the driver’s side of the vehicle and a bag with a crystal like substance suspected to be methamphetamine in a common area of the vehicle. Daryl Jenkins was later determined to be the owner of the methamphetamine, leading to his additional arrest of possession of a controlled substance, according to the release. Kelly Jenkins was arrested for possession of paraphernalia and running a stop sign, the release states.