Published: July 26, 2008 09:02 pm         

Couple charged with selling marijuana

PICAYUNE — A Picayune couple has been charged with sale of a controlled substance as the result of a drug investigation.

An investigation performed by the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department led to the arrest of Vanessa Smith, 39, and Patrick Durr, 41, both of 415 Woodglen Cove. They each face three felony charges

Investigator Capt. Donnie Saucier said the department had received information that the husband and wife team were allegedly selling drugs out of their home. After a couple of days of surveillance and some investigation the department was able to secure a search warrant for the residence.

Thursday at about 11:30 p.m. investigators and a K-9 unit served the warrant and found about 100 grams of marijuana packaged individually, apparently for resale. After the K-9, Scoob, searched the home investigators physically searched the areas he alerted to, Saucier said.

Saucier said investigators also found one gram of cocaine, two ecstasy pills, $1,296 in cash, scales and small baggies suspected to be used to package the marijuana. The cash is believed to have been obtained through the sale of a controlled substance, Saucier said.

Both suspects were charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute within 1,500 feet of a church, possession of cocaine within 1,500 feet of a church and possession of ecstasy within 1,500 feet of a church, Saucier said. All charges are felonies, Saucier said.