Undercover detectives with the Picayune Police Department made several arrests recently under Operation Fall Sweep.
On Sept. 15 at 6:39 p.m., while conducing a narcotics operation, detectives arrested two suspects during a traffic stop on Highway 43 North near Adcox Road, Picayune Police Department Assistant Chief Jeremy Magri said.
Thirty-eight-year-old Michael Peters and 32-year-old Erika Jones, both of 1201 Brookdale Dr., were arrested for one count each of sale of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school or church, Magri said.
Jones was additionally arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute within 1,500 feet of a school or church, Magri said.
In a separate incident on Sept. 27 at 10:09 p.m., officers conducted a traffic stop on Highway 11 North at Dockside Seafood for a broken tag light, Magri said.
The driver, identified as Israel Hernandez, 29, of 129 Rayburn Road, Carriere, failed to provide the officer with a driver’s license or proof of insurance. During the stop, the officer noticed a brown bag containing what appeared to be bonded whiskey on the floorboard behind the driver’s seat, Magri said.
At this time, the officer asked the driver and two passengers— Anne Marie Colon Yusupov, 33, of 456 Fairway Drive, Apt. 1, and Senica Nickson, 31, 620 Richard St.—to step out of the vehicle, Magri said.
During the search of the vehicle, the officer recovered a 750 ml bottle of vodka and a gallon jug of a pink alcohol believed to be a daiquiri, Magri said.
The officer also located several bags of a crystallized substance believed to be crystal methamphetamine near the center console and driver’s seat. None of the occupants claimed ownership of the drugs, Magri said.
Hernandez was arrested for possession with intent to distribute, no tag light, no proof of insurance, no driver’s license and possession of bonded whiskey. Yusupov and Nickson were arrested for possession of controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of bonded whiskey, Magri said.
In a third incident, officers were dispatched to North Main Street and West Canal Street at midnight on Oct. 2, in reference to an unconscious motorist in the roadway, Magri said.
Upon arrival, officers observed a man, later identified as Brett Labarge, 54 of 29 Frierson Road, sitting in the driver’s seat of a white Ford pickup truck, Magri said.
The officer asked Labarge to pull off the roadway and exit the vehicle. While exiting, the officer detected a strong odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle, Magri said.
During a search of the truck, the officer located U.S. currency, a small amount of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana and a .45-caliber pistol in the center console. The officer also found a toolbox containing a plastic bag with smaller bags containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana, a set of digital scales, box of plastic bags and more U.S. currency, Magri said.
Marijuana seized had a street value of $3,000. The total cash seized amounted to $270. Labarge was arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute while in possession of a firearm, Magri said.
The department expects more arrests to come due to undercover efforts as part of Operation Fall Sweep, Magri said.