According to a departmental release, on August 7 at almost 10 p.m., detectives with the Picayune Police Department’s Narcotics Division and detectives with the Pearl River County Narcotics Division were proactively patrolling when they saw a white Hyundai sitting in the middle of Fourth St. blocking traffic, the release states. The detectives noticed a man standing by the car speaking to whoever was inside.

Detectives approached the vehicle and began speaking to the subjects. The man in the car was identified as Gary Antonio Vanburen, 22, 308 Clark St., Picayune, and the other man was identified as Jonathan Jervonne Brooks, 21, 114 North Monroe Ave., Picayune. According to the release, while the detectives were speaking to the men, they smelled what appeared to be a strong odor of Marijuana coming from them.

According to the release, at this time detectives conducted a search during which they found a large bag with a green leafy substance they believed to be hydroponic marijuana and a black scale with a leafy residue they believed to be marijuana inside Brook’s front pants pocket. On the ground close to where Brooks was standing detectives also found a loaded black Glock 26 gun, which was loaded with an extended magazine that contained full-metal jacket rounds, the release states.

In a fanny pack Vanburen was wearing around his waist, detectives also found another bag of what they believed to be hydroponic marijuana and another black scale with a residue they believed to be marijuana, the release states.

According to the release, after investigating detectives discovered that Brooks and Vanburen were allegedly conspiring to sell and distribute the narcotic.

Brooks was arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute while in possession of a firearm and conspiracy to sell a controlled substance while in possession of a firearm, the release states. Vanburen was arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell within 1,500 ft. of a church and conspiracy to sell a controlled substance within 1,500 ft. of a church.

Because it was in such close proximity to narcotics, the firearm was seized. The approximate value of the sized marijuana was $500, the release states.