A Picayune man was arrested for drug related offenses by the Picayune Police Department during a routine traffic stop.

According to a departmental release, 23-year-old Dustin Michael Gray, of 1600 Sixth Ave., Picayune was arrested on Nov. 7, after being stopped for careless driving. The release states that the stop was conducted after narcotics detectives on patrol saw a vehicle leave the roadway more than once while traveling in the area of Beech Street and Palestine Road.

When Gray pulled over, he exited the vehicle, approached the detectives and became combative, attempting to punch the detectives in the face, the release states.

A search of the vehicle was conducted after Gray was taken into custody, during which a green leafy substance suspected to be marijuana was found in the driver’s side door. Also found in the search of the vehicle was $847 in cash, the release states.

Gray was subsequently arrested for possession of a controlled substance, careless driving and resisting arrest by fighting the release states.

As Gray was removed from the patrol unit to be booked into the city jail, the patrol officer noticed that there was a large bag of a substance suspected to be high grade marijuana under the seat where Gray was sitting. The release states that the estimated value of the marijuana found under the seat was $650.

The additional find led to Gray additionally being arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute within 1,500 feet of a school or church, the release states. 

The money found in the vehicle was seized due to its proximity to a controlled substance, the release states.