Two charged with cocaine possession

Published 7:00 am Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Picayune Police officers conducting a routine traffic stop found suspected cocaine in the possession of the vehicle’s occupants.

Assistant Chief Jeremy Magri said the case occurred on the evening of March 23, after an officer noticed a vehicle run a stop sign. The officer attempted a traffic stop but the driver kept driving for a short time.

Once the vehicle did come to a stop the officer spoke with the occupants, identified as 36-year-old Jason Andrew Blackwell of 64360 Josephine St., Pearl River, La., and 22-year-old Tiffani Lynn Clemmins of 6 Jaguar Lane off of Liberty Road, Magri said.

Sign up for our daily email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

While speaking with Blackwell and Clemmins, the officer noticed a spoon with a burnt residue on the floorboard in the back of the vehicle, Magri said. Additionally, dispatch advised the officer that Blackwell had three warrants out for his arrest with the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department for possession of a controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia and contempt of court, Magri said.

Blackwell was taken into custody for the warrants, and Clemmins was asked her name, which she lied about to the officer, Magri said. A search of the vehicle was conducted where the officer found two containers with a white powdery substance, several baggies with a white residue and a straw with residue, Magri said.

A field test on the substance determined it to be cocaine, leading Blackwell and Clemmins to be charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of paraphernalia.

In addition to the warrants, Blackwell was also charged with running a stop sign, improper out of state license and failure to yield to blue lights and sirens.

As Clemmins was being booked into the jail the female officer searching her found a syringe on her person, leading her to additionally be charged with introduction of contraband into a correctional facility along with the charge of providing false identifying information to a police officer, Magri said.