Picayune Police officers and narcotics investigators made a number of drug related arrests recently as part of Operation Who’s Next.
The first case occurred on March 1, when narcotic investigators noticed two individuals standing outside of a business, identified as 19-year-old Stephen Blake Kennedy of 1300 Ausborn Road and a male juvenile. The detectives approached the business to investigate, detecting the strong odor of what was believed to be marijuana, according to a release from the department.
As the officers spoke with Kennedy and the juvenile, they noticed a baggy containing a green leafy substance suspected to be marijuana at their feet.
Kennedy was taken into custody for possession of a controlled substance, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and public drunk, while the juvenile was released to a guardian, the release states.
A separate case, that also took place on March 1, involved narcotics detectives observing an individual they suspected had outstanding warrants. The release states that after the officers confirmed the man was 34-year-old Richard Blake Johnston, who lives at 1614 Jackson Landing Road, they checked to see if he did have outstanding warrants. Once dispatch confirmed he had a probation violation warrant, Johnston was taken into custody and searched. During the search they found a clear plastic bag containing a crystalized substance suspected to be methamphetamine and several used syringes, leading to the additional charges of felony possession of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia, the release states.
On March 2, detectives served a search warrant at a home located at 1223 Kingsway Drive Apt. A-2, the residence of 29-year-old Lashundra Denise Dawson, the release states. The search included the home and surrounding vehicles. During that search a green leafy substance suspected to be marijuana was found, leading Dawson to be charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Also on March 2, narcotics detectives on patrol saw 29-year-old Terrell Rasshan Gibson of 614 Bolar St, who was known to have two outstanding warrants for the charge of selling a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a church.
While Gibson was being taken into custody for the warrant, the officers located a bag containing a green leafy substance on his person, and $699 in currency in his pocket, leading to the additional charge of possession of a controlled substance, the release states. Since the cash was found in close proximity to a controlled substance, it was seized, the release states.
A third arrest also occurred on March 2, where detectives served four warrants for the sale of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a church on 57-year-old Emmanuel Coleman, who lives at 1223 Kingsway Drive, the release states. He was taken into custody without incident.
Also on March 2, narcotics detectives checked out several community tips that alleged illegal drug activity was ongoing at a Picayune home. After several hours of surveillance, 18-year-old Patrick HyKeem O’Brian Wilks, who resides at 105 Margaret Street, was observed conducting an alleged drug transaction. Narcotics detectives approached, searched Wilks and found four baggies containing a green leafy substance suspected to be marijuana, a digital scale, a knife and about $633 in cash on his person, leading him to be charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute while in possession of a weapon, the release states.