In an effort to curb drug, alcohol and traffic related offenses in Picayune neighborhoods, the Picayune Police Department initiated Operation Heat Wave over the past weekend.

Officers found 12 instances of violations over the weekend that resulted in charges being filed against 14 people for drug, alcohol or traffic related offenses, said Capt. Chad Dorn.

On July 26, officers with the department were sent to Keith’s Superstore on Mississippi Highway 43 South, in reference to two suspicious people in a green Chevrolet Malibu, the police captain said. Dorn said Officers found 43-year-old Gregory Cook and 46-year-old Shirley Arrington both of 107 Jasmine Dr., in the vehicle. Officers noticed they both seemed confused and disoriented, so they were asked to get out of the vehicle and were placed under arrest for public drunk, Dorn said.

A search of the suspects found 41 Oxycodone pills and four Xanax pills in Arrington’s purse, Dorn said. Officers found a syringe on the floorboard of the vehicle, he said. Arrington was charged additionally with two counts of felony possession of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia, Dorn said.

About 7:15 p.m. on July 27, officers stopped a vehicle for a seat belt violation near Fannie Street, the police captain said. Dorn said the officer could see the passenger in the vehicle, 34-year-old Shindana Ward of 1307 Jackson Landing Rd., with an open, 24 ounce Bud Light in her hands, prompting officers to charge her with possession of open beer.

About 7:23 p.m. that evening, 25-year-old Brett Anthony Boos Jr., of 170 Geranium Dr., was stopped for a seat belt violation. When Boos was asked for his driver’s license, he was unable to provide it or to provide proof of insurance, leading to his arrest. He was and his vehicle were searched and the officers found an uncovered a strip of Suboxone in his wallet, Dorn said. Boos was charged with the seat belt violation, no driver’s license, no proof of insurance, possession of a controlled substance and on two warrants with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department and on a simple assault warrant with the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department.

At about 8:12 p.m., a vehicle was stopped for having only one headlight, which Dorn said creates a dangerous driving situation. As officers talked with the driver about the headlight, they noticed the vehicle’s passenger, 33-year-old Frank Williams of 105 Carver Dr., had an open beer at his feet, Dorn said. Williams was asked to get out of the vehicle and was searched, Dorn said. Officers found a bag of marijuana in his possession, the police captain said. Dorn said Williams was charged with open beer and possession of marijuana.

At 9:07 p.m., officers stopped another vehicle for one headlight on Palestine Road, Dorn said. During the stop, the officer could see a liquid prescription bottle in the passenger seat, Dorn said. Upon closer inspection, the bottle did not have prescription information on it, but was found to contain liquid codeine, Dorn said. The vehicle’s passenger, 27-year-old Marcus Adams of 184 Short Chapel Loop, Carson, Miss., claimed ownership of the bottle and was charged with possession of a controlled substance, Dorn said.

At about 9:17 that night, a vehicle was stopped for no tag light, Dorn said. Officers noticed several bottles of liquor in the floor board of the vehicle, leading to the arrest of the driver, 34-year-old Vandell McGill of 216 S. Abrams Ave., for possession of bonded whiskey, Dorn said.

Just before 9:30 p.m., officers patrolling in the area of Walker Street noticed a man pacing nervously along the road, the police captain said. Dorn said the officer approached the man, 19-year-old Demonte Myers of 2105 Cousin St., but he began to walk away quickly upon seeing the officer approach. Once the officer caught up with Myers, he was searched for weapons, Dorn said, but instead the officer found a bag og marijuana. Myers was charged with possession of marijuana, Dorn said.

At about 10:22 p.m., officers patrolling East Canal Street saw a vehicle parked in a dark area of a vacant field, Dorn said. Officers saw a flash of light from inside the vehicle, indicating someone was in it, so they went to see why the vehicle was parked there, Dorn said. The officers came into contact with 32-year-old Deon Parker of 715 S. Haugh Ave., smoking a hand rolled cigar, Dorn said. The officer noticed the smell of burning marijuana coming from the vehicle, Dorn said. The police captain said Parker told the officer all he was doing was smoking a little marijuana. Parker and his vehicle were searched and officers found a bag of marijuana on his person, so he was taken into custody and charged with possession of marijuana, Dorn said.

After, 11 p.m., officers patrolling near Friendship Park came across two people hanging out with cans of Bud Light in their hands, Dorn said. When they saw the officers, they could be seen attempting to hide the beer in the vehicle, Dorn said. Officers then placed both men, 30-year-old Chad Ladner of 401 Seventh St., Bay St. Louis and 41-year-old Ronald Patrick Boyle of Pass Christian, under arrest for possession of open beer, Dorn said.

Just before midnight on July 29, officers were informed of a careless driver in a green Dodge Ram in the area of Bill’s Quick Stop on Miss. Hwy. 43 S. They found the vehicle fitting the description parked in the quick stop parking lot, Dorn said. The driver, 28-year-old Vonda Seals of 131 Pea Ridge Rd., had her head laying on the steering wheel, Dorn said.

While officers spoke with her, she appeared to be nervous, leading the officer to ask why she was at the quick stop, the police captain said. Dorn said Seals said she was waiting for someone. The officer then asked if she had any illegal items in her possession, to which she admitted she had a couple of needles in her wallet, Dorn said. The officer then retrieved the unused needles from Seals’ belongings, Dorn said.

During a search, officers found a metal locker in Seals’ possession containing three clear bags with what appeared to be heroin along with two Xanax pills, Dorn said. Seals was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia, Dorn said.

On Monday, officers set up a buy-bust using a confidential informant to meet some people at a local service station to purchase prescription narcotics, Dorn said. When two suspects arrived, officers came into contact with 41-year-old Michael W. Mitchell and 24-year-old Cody Famularo both of 166 Grover Barrett Rd., Dorn said

A search of the suspects uncovered 10 Xanax and five Roxycodone pills in a plastic bag, prompting officers to charge both of them with two counts each of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute within 1,500 feet of a church and conspiracy to commit a crime, Dorn said.

Operation Heat Wave will continue in the department’s effort to enforce traffic, drug and alcohol related offenses, Dorn said.