Two suspects were arrested by officers with the Picayune Police Department during a routine stop.

According to a departmental release, officers patrolling the city of Picayune in the area of South Beech Street noticed that the driver of a Nissan Altima was not wearing a seatbelt, resulting in the officer attempting a traffic stop. However, the driver refused to immediately pull over until turning onto Rosa Street.

During the stop, officers spoke with the driver, Joshua Remon Smith, 35, of 15 La Sha Rd., Apt. 6, Picayune, and the passenger, Ashley Rene McCree, 29, of 1501 Sixth Ave., Apt. M2.

It was later determined that Smith was driving without a valid license, leading to both suspects being searched. In that search, a large amount of a crystal like substance suspected to be methamphetamine was found in McCree’s possession. However, further investigation determined that Smith convinced McCree to hold the substance to conceal it from the officers, the release states. It was also learned that McCree let Smith drive her vehicle even though she knew he did not have a valid license, the release states.

Smith was arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute within 1,500 feet of a church or school, transfer of a controlled substance and conspiracy to transfer a controlled substance, the release states.

McCree was arrested for unauthorized driver.