Two separate traffic stops conducted by the Picayune Police Department found suspects to be in possession of marijuana and an unknown substance believed to be methamphetamine or heroin, respectively.

On June 23 just after 9 a.m. officers were informed that a vehicle had been taken without permission by 28-year-old Eric Everett of 3317 Jackson Landing Rd., and was possibly in the Picayune area, said Assistant Chief Jeremy Magri.

Officers patrolling Interstate 59 located the vehicle heading northbound on the Interstate and performed a stop at mile marker 6.

Magri said that as the officer approached the vehicle Everett quickly exited the vehicle and began to walk toward the officer.

The officer detected the odor of marijuana coming from Everett, Magri said.

When the officer asked for Everett’s driver’s license, he said he didn’t have one and instead gave the officer a false name, Magri said. The officer was able to procure Everett’s true identity and placed him under arrest for providing false identifying information to a police officer, Magri said.

A safety pat down found two bags of a green leafy substance in the area of Everett’s groin and $530 in cash, both of which were seized, Magri said.

During a search of the vehicle the officer found a loaded .45 caliber handgun and a set of digital scales, leading him to be additionally charged with possession of marijuana while in possession of a firearm and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Magri said.

The vehicle was then returned to the rightful owner.

On June 13th at about 11:30 p.m. an officer on patrol conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for no tag light near the intersection of Bruce and Davis Streets. During the stop, the officer spoke with the driver, identified as 40-year-old Shane Foss, of 6488 Dummy Line Rd., who was unable to provide a driver’s license, Magri said.

While speaking with Foss, the officer noticed a syringe plunger in plain sight near the gearshift, prompting the officer to request Foss to exit the vehicle, Magri said.

As Foss was exiting the vehicle he tried to carry his drink, wallet and a pack of cigarettes with him, Magri said. The officer instructed Foss to leave the items in the vehicle, at which point Foss put the drink and wallet on the seat, but dropped the pack of cigarettes on the ground and attempted to kick it under the vehicle, Magri said.

Once the pack was recovered officers found a bag containing a white colored substance believed to be either methamphetamine or heroin, leading Foss to be taken into custody, Magri said.

A search of the vehicle found another bag containing a similar substance in Foss’ wallet, a spoon on the floor board with a white residue and a syringe sticking out of the air conditioning vent, Magri said. The officer also found a bottle cap containing a blue liquid and two blue rock-like substances, which is being sent to the crime lab along with the white powder for testing, Magri said.

Foss was charged with no driver’s license, felony possession of a controlled substance, improper equipment and possession of paraphernalia, Magri said.