A traffic stop on Feb. 20 led to the arrest of four individuals who were in the possession of synthetic marijuana by Picayune Police officers.

According to a departmental release, on the afternoon of Feb. 20, narcotics detectives patrolling Brookdale Drive saw a 2000 Crown Victoria stopped in the middle of the road. Since the vehicle was obstructing traffic, officers approached the vehicle. There were four people in the car when officers approached. According to the release, the driver was identified as Stephan Brooks Raby, 32, 108 East Meadowlark Road, Carriere, and the three passengers were identified as Sylvia Marie McGrew, 35, of 715 South Haugh Avenue, Apt. D-25, Picayune, Lawrence Lamont McDonald, 30, 715 of South Haugh Avenue, Apt. D-25, Picayune, and Gauge Hannon Normand, 23, of 5182 Highway 43 North, Carriere.

While speaking with Raby, detectives noticed the odor of burnt marijuana coming from the vehicle. In response, detectives asked all four passengers to exit the vehicle and conducted a search where they found 2 clear plastic bags with a green leafy substance believed to be synthetic marijuana and several split cigar wraps often used to smoke narcotics, the release states. 

A bag of synthetic marijuana was also found in one of McGrew’s pants pockets, the release states.

Investigative techniques discovered McDonald sold the narcotics to McGrew who then sold them to Raby and Normand, according to the release.

McDonald and McGrew were arrested for sale of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a church and possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute within 1,500 feet of a church. Normand and Raby were both arrested for misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance, the release states.