Picayune Police officers made several arrests for drug related charges recently.
On July 18, an officer found a suspicious man while patrolling the rear of buildings along Memorial Boulevard due to increase incidents of graffiti. That night he came into contact with 28-year-old Steven Alonzo Ratcliff of 607 Third Street, who was standing behind one of the buildings, according to a report filed with the Picayune Police Department.
When the officer attempted to speak with him, Ratcliff attempted to flee, throwing a bag he was carrying at the time over a nearby fence, according to the report. Ratcliff was eventually captured and placed into custody. During a pat down of his person the officer found more than $1,500 in cash, the report states. Once the bag was recovered officers found plastic baggies containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana along with digital scales and a box of the baggies inside, the report states.
Ratcliff was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, according to the report.
On July 12, an officer was sent to the area of a local retailer to investigate a report of a man who was allegedly intoxicated.
The officer arrived to find 35-year-old Darren Lang of 114 Fred Mallett Rd., Carriere, in the store moving in an unsteady manner and displaying bloodshot eyes, the report states.
Lang was placed under arrest for public drunk and a subsequent visual search of his vehicle discovered the bottom half of a soda can in plain sight on the passenger side floorboard. Entry was made to the vehicle where the officers recovered the can and a syringe containing a brown liquid believed to be heroin. Lang was charged with public drunk and possession of a controlled substance.
On July 7, an officer was sent to investigate a report of a reckless driver. The report states that when the officer found the vehicle in question, he saw the vehicle cross the fog line, leading to a traffic stop. The officer found 21-year-old Cody Lee Cuevas of 76 Burgetown Rd., behind the wheel. After consent to search the vehicle was granted, the officer discovered a baggy containing a white crystalized substance on the driver’s side floorboard near the door frame, some currency and a pipe, the report states.
The report states that Cuevas was charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of paraphernalia and careless driving.