Reckless driving leads to drug arrests

Published 7:00 am Thursday, May 1, 2014

 The Picayune Police Department conducted traffic stops in response to two separate reckless driving incidents which led to the arrest of three people, said Assistant Chief Jeremy Magri.

On April 25, at 8:21 a.m., an officer observed a car with an expired tag driving west in the eastbound lanes of Memorial Boulevard, prompting him to conduct a stop, Magri said.

The traffic stop was conducted on Loftin Avenue, where the officer discovered the driver, identified as Destiny Boudreaux, 23, of 221 North Gray Ave., in Picayune, had an active warrant for probation violation, Magri said.

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Boudreaux was taken into custody while officers spoke with her passenger, identified as Timothy Qualls, 27, of the same address, Magri said.

Qualls was found to have an outstanding warrant with the New Orleans Police Department for possession of stolen property and was also taken into custody, Magri said.

An inventory of the vehicle was conducted where officers located a hand rolled cigarette containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana. A packet containing a substance believed to be Suboxone was found in Qualls’ wallet which he was unable to provide a prescription for, Magri said.

Both subjects were then transported to the Criminal Justice Center. Upon arrival, officers recovered a plastic bag from the rear seat of the patrol car, containing green leafy substance believed to be marijuana, where Qualls was sitting, Magri said.

Boudreaux was charged with possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle, driving while license suspended, careless driving, no proof of insurance, expired tag and the probation violation warrant, Magri said.

Qualls was charged with possession of a controlled substance and for the warrant with the NOPD, Magri said.

In another instance which occurred on April 10, at 7:39 p.m., on I-59, officers observed a vehicle traveling southbound, weaving in traffic, Magri said.

The officer conducted a traffic stop at mile marker 3, and spoke with the driver, identified as Theodore Lambeth, 36, of 21 Waller Cooley Rd., in Waynesboro, Magri said.

The officer was able to detect the odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle and also observed Lambeth’s eyes to be glassy, bloodshot and dilated and his speech to be slurred, Magri said.

 The officer then conducted several standardized field sobriety tests, and as a result Lambeth was taken into custody for DUI first offense other substance, Magri said.

A vehicle inventory was conducted where they recovered numerous burnt hand rolled cigarettes containing a green leafy substance, believed to be marijuana from the driver’s side floor console, Magri said.

Lambeth was then taken into custody and transported to the Criminal Justice Center where he was booked and incarcerated for DUI first offense other substance, possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle and possession of synthetic marijuana. He was also cited for careless driving, Magri said.