Last week, officers with the Picayune Police Department arrested two suspects in two separate cases for possession of methamphetamine.
On March 26 at 10:37 p.m. officers were dispatched to Memorial Boulevard in reference to a careless driver complaint, Picayune Police Department Assistant Chief Jeremy Magri said.
The vehicle was described to officers as a gray Chevy Avalanche and was also reported to have turned down Elm Street, Magri said.
The officer patrolled the area and located the vehicle near Telly and Alpine Road, the assistant police chief said.
The officer observed the vehicle had only one headlight and proceeded to conduct a traffic stop, Magri said.
While speaking with the driver, later identified as 40-year-old Rickie Hutcherson of 7 Rolling Oaks, Picayune, the officer observed an open beer can in plain view sitting in the center console, Magri said.
Next, the officer asked Hutcherson to step out of the vehicle, Magri said.
As Hutcherson exited the vehicle, the officer observed him attempt to reach into his pockets and advised Hutcherson several times not to reach into his pocket, Magri said.
Hutcherson then turned away from the officer and reached into his pocket again, Magri said.
At this time, the officer attempted to remove Hutcherson’s hand from his pocket and in response, Hutcherson jerked away, Magri said.
A second officer arrived to assist and after a brief struggle they were able to take Hutcherson into custody, Magri said.
The officer was then able to search Hutcherson and recovered three plastic bags containing a crystal-like substance believed to be crystal meth, Magri said.
Hutcherson was charged with improper equipment, possession of open beer, resisting arrest by fighting and felony possession of a controlled substance, Magri said.
In another matter, on March 31 at 3:15 a.m., officers were dispatched to a local shopping center in reference to a report of a female passenger who was believed to be passed out behind the wheel of her vehicle in the parking lot, Magri said.
Officers located the vehicle and observed the female, later identified as 35-year-old Mary Youngblood of 39233 Keaghey Rd., Ponchatoula, Louisiana, unconscious in the driver’s seat, Magri said.
The officer woke Youngblood and asked her to exit the vehicle, Magri said.
The officer observed Youngblood to be very fidgety and had on only one shoe, Magri said.
She was also observed to be confused about her whereabouts, Magri added.
The officer asked for her driver’s license, at which point Youngblood explained it was located in a small purple purse inside her larger black purse, Magri said.
While the officer searched for the driver’s license in her purse, the officer discovered a plastic bag containing a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine, Magri said.
Youngblood was then charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, Magri said.