Narcotics detectives with the Picayune Police Department have started 2016 with more drug-related arrests as part of the department’s ongoing investigation labeled Operation: Who’s Next?
On Jan. 4 at 7:48 p.m., narcotics detectives arrested Dennis Jackson, 57, of 611 Jarrell. The department had felony warrants on Jackson for the sale of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school or church, Picayune Police Department Assistant Police Chief Jeremy Magri said.
On that same day at 8 p.m., narcotics detectives learned that 31-year-old Joshua Smith of 515 Maxwell St., was in the custody of the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department, Magri said.
The Picayune Police Department had an outstanding warrant for Smith for the sale of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school or church. The department placed a hold on Smith, Magri said.
The warrant arrests were part of the ongoing undercover investigation, Magri said.
As part of Operation Who’s Next?, narcotics detectives have also been patrolling the streets of Picayune in further attempts to remove drugs from the streets, Magri said.
On. Jan. 4 at 1 p.m., narcotics detectives conducted a traffic stop on North Beech Street near Palestine Road for a seatbelt violation, Magri said.
When detectives approached the car, the driver, later identified as 33-year-old Brandon Edwards of 931 Old Highway 11, Carriere, exited the vehicle and proceeded to walk away, the assistant police chief said.
Detectives ordered the suspect to stop numerous times, which he refused to do, Magri said.
When he turned around to walk back toward detectives, he did so in an aggressive manner using loud and profane language, Magri said.
At that time, Edwards was placed under arrest, the assistant police chief said.
Next, narcotic detectives conducted a search of Edwards’ person and located a piece of tinfoil containing a crystallized substance believed to be methamphetamine and two orange and brown capsules, later identified as Dexedrine, a schedule two narcotic, Magri said.
During their search of the vehicle, detectives located a set of black digital scales containing a crystal-like substance residue and several used syringes, Magri said.
Edwards was charged with disorderly conduct, failure to comply, public profanity, no seatbelt, no insurance, possession of paraphernalia and two counts of possession of a controlled substance felony, Magri said.
Also on Jan. 4 at 3:36 p.m. narcotic detectives conducted another traffic stop on Clover Circle near Martin Luther King Boulevard for speeding, the assistant police chief said.
While speaking with the driver, later identified as Damon Pittman, 36, of 36 Pittman Road, Poplarville, detectives observed what appeared to be a bulge in the suspect’s jacket pocket, Magri said.
Next, detectives asked him to step out of the vehicle and, after a pat down, located a 32-caliber double barrel pistol in Pittman’s left jacket pocket and a glass pipe containing burned residue in his right jacket pocket, Magri said.
A check on Pittman’s driver’s license revealed it was suspended, Magri said.
Detectives also learned that he was convicted of residential burglary in Pearl River County on Jan. 9, 2011, Magri said.
There were also two passengers in the vehicle, identified as 33-year-old Lettie Matherne of 9511 Highway 11 N., Poplarville and 33-year-old Jeffery Bond of 135 Evans Road, Poplarville, the assistant police chief said.
After conducting an inventory of Pittman’s vehicle, detectives found a bag containing a white, crystallized substance believed to be methamphetamine under the passenger seat, Magri said.
Detectives also located what was believed to be synthetic marijuana in a backpack belonging to Pittman, Magri said.
Pittman was charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of paraphernalia, speeding, driving while license suspended, no insurance and possession of a controlled substance felony, the assistant police chief said.
Both Bond and Matherne were charged with possession of a controlled substance, a felony, Magri said.
All suspects were transferred to the criminal justice center where a female officer conducted a more thorough search of Matherne, Magri said.
During the search, the officer located a plastic bag with a white, crystallized substance believed to be methamphetamine and a glass pipe containing a burned residue, Magri said.
Matherne was additionally charged with introducing contraband into a jail facility, Magri said.