Three arrested in two separate drug cases
Published 7:00 am Thursday, December 15, 2016
Two cases worked by the Picayune Police Department as part of Operation Fall Sweep led to the arrest of three suspects for drug related offenses.
On Nov. 29, narcotics detectives were alerted to a possible prescription transaction set to take place at a local gas station, according to reports filed with the department. A surveillance operation was set up in the area, where the detectives observed 43-year-old Kevin Ray Caldera, and 56-year-old Pamela Susan Alford, both of 2609 Highway 43 S., pull up in a vehicle before conducting a hand to hand transaction, the report states.
Detectives then moved in and secured the scene, before searching the vehicle. In the arrest, more than 50 pills of trazodone were seized.
Both suspects were arrested for sale of controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school or church, conspiracy to sell a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school or church, and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute within 15,00 feet of a school or church, the report states.
A separate case, worked on Dec. 8, led to the arrest of Lakeith Monea Rawls, 38, of 308 N. Blanks Ave., for the offense of driving with one headlight, driving while license suspended, no insurance, possession of paraphernalia, open beer, two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled substance and possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, reports filed with the department state.
The case began as a traffic stop when the officer noticed Rawls’ vehicle had only one headlight. The report states that during the stop, a check of his license found it was suspended and that Rawls had no proof of insurance. While speaking with Rawls, the officer noticed an open container of alcohol in the vehicle, and the smell of marijuana was coming from inside, the report states.
Rawls was asked to exit the vehicle, a pat down was conducted and a search of the vehicle followed. The report states that the officer found a container with a green leafy substance suspected to be marijuana in the vehicle.
While leading Rawls to the patrol vehicle for detainment, a glass pipe fell from Rawls’ pants leg. During a more thorough pat down, the officer found several bags containing a crystalized substance and bags containing a green leafy substance on Rawls’ person, the report states. A Clonazepam pill was also recovered from his person, the report states.
Inside the vehicle, the officer found a knife between the passenger seat and center console. The report states that the contraband along with $278 in Rawls’ possession was seized.