Picayune Police personnel recently arrested seven people for drug related charges on the same day.

All of the arrests took place on July 27, according to a departmental release. 

According to the release, at about 7:20 p.m. that day detectives with the department’s Narcotics Division and the Criminal Investigations Division stopped a blue 2006 Chevrolet Silverado on Highway 43 North because its taillights were not working. During the stop, detectives spoke with the driver, identified as Jeffrey Scott Smith, 47, 328 South Main St. Picayune, the release states.

While speaking with Smith, detectives noticed his pupils were constricted and he was exhibiting irregular body movements. According to the release, these behaviors typically indicate methamphetamine use.

Because of Smith’s behavior, detectives requested and received consent to search the vehicle. During the search, they found a clear plastic bag between the driver seat and the center console containing a crystal substance detectives believed to be methamphetamine, the release states. Smith was arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance and was issued a citation for no taillights, the release states.

Less than an hour later, just after 8 p.m. detectives patrolling the city saw a 1999 Nissan with no headlights pull out of 1716 Adcox Road, the release states. Although the vehicle eventually turned its headlights on, it began to swerve off the road. According to the release, detectives tried to stop the vehicle on Highway 11 near Highway 43 North, but the driver refused to stop. The driver turned onto Highway 43 North and continued eastbound until the driver eventually turned into a local business’ parking lot, the release states.

The slow-paced pursuit continued around the parking lot for several minutes until the driver pulled around to the back of the business and suddenly stopped, the release states.

Detectives approached the vehicle and saw the driver, later identified as James Scott Jarrell, 52, 8 B Heartwood Place, Hattiesburg, put a plastic bag in his mouth in an effort to destroy evidence, the release states. Detectives intervened and Jarrell tried to fight back. At this point he was tased, the release states.

Jarrell was arrested for tampering with physical evidence, no headlights, no insurance, failure to yield when officer signals and disorderly conduct-failure to comply, the release states.

After taking Jarrell to the criminal justice center, detectives and patrol officers returned to 1716 Adcox Road. Near a shed in the back of the home, detectives spoke with Wallace Junior Bailey, 48, 1028 Beacham Hill Road, Magnolia, Jason Allen Treat, 46, 310 Vaughn St., Picayune, Boyd Corely Mitchell, 57, 1716 Adcox Road, Denise Jean Lossett, 57, 1716 Adcox Road and Thomas Nathan Dodd, 55, 697 B Cedar Grove Ave., Picayune.

In the middle of the shed in plain view officers saw a plastic bag full of a crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine and a broken glass pipe with a burnt residue suspected to be methamphetamine, according to the release. Inside a red bag in Lossett’s purse, detectives also found eight white pills they believed to be Norco 10 milligrams – which is a schedule two substance, the release states.

Biley, Treat, Mitchell, Lossett and Dodd were all arrested for felony possession of a controlled substance, the release states.