Picayune Police detective halts indoor cultivators

Demi Marie Lefleur

Jeremy Cyntear Turner

Picayune Police recently made two arrests on numerous charges including the cultivation of marijuana inside a residence.

Around midnight on June 15th, a Picayune Police Department Narcotic Detective was conducting a follow up investigation at 2315 East Canal Street in Picayune when the detective came in contact with suspect Demi Marie Lefleur, age 22, at the front door of the residence.

As the detective was speaking with Lefleur, he could smell a strong odor believed to be marijuana emitting from inside the residence. From where he was standing, the detective noticed a black tent like structure inside the residence in plain view. Upon further investigation of the residence, the detective located multiple lights, heating elements, fans, and vents commonly used to grow and cultivate marijuana leaves inside of a tent. The detective found several pieces of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana leaves inside the tent.

As the search of the residence continued, the detective found several bags of a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana, multiple pieces of paraphernalia commonly used to grow and process marijuana, a book titled “Growing Marijuana: How to Plant, Cultivate, and Harvest Your Own Weed”, and he found several bags of fertilizer located in the master bedroom closet. The detective also found a black duffel bag containing several clear plastic bags containing a crystal substance believed to be crystal methamphetamine in the living room along with an additional bag that contained a large amount of a crystal substance believed to be a counterfeit controlled substance by representing it to be crystal methamphetamine.

Through further investigation, it was learned that suspects at the residence were manufacturing and selling the counterfeit crystal substance by representing it to be crystal methamphetamine when it was in fact a joint support powder for horses.

Lefleur was placed under arrest for cultivation of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school or church, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute within 1,500 feet of a school or church, possession of a counterfeit controlled substance with intent to distribute within 1,500 feet of a school or church, possession of paraphernalia, and possession of controlled substance (felony). Lefleur was transported to the criminal justice center where she was booked and incarcerated on the said charges.

An additional suspect, Jeremy Cyntear Turner, also known as “J-Red”, age 25, of the residence where the investigation started, was arrested at 328 South Main Street for cultivation of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school or church, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute within 1,500 feet of a school or church, possession of a counterfeit controlled substance with intent to distribute within 1,500 feet of a school or church, possession of paraphernalia, and possession of controlled substance (felony).