Picayune Police make multiple drug arrests
On August 19th at approximately 10:00am, a Picayune Police officer observed a driver in a 2005 tan Ford truck that he recognized from previous encounters and believed the suspect had a suspended license from prior incidents according to Assistant Chief Jeremy Magri.
The officer conducted a traffic stop near mile marker 4 on I-59 and ran a check with dispatch to confirm through National Criminal Information Center database (NCIC) that the license was suspended.
The officer asked the suspect, Justin Faciane of 1064 Michigan Avenue, Slidell, LA, to exit the vehicle and took Faciane into custody for Driving While License Suspended. On searching the vehicle, the officer found an unmarked pill bottle in the center console that was in plain view. Magri said the bottle contained a clear plastic bag containing a crystal-like substance believed to be crystal methamphetamine.
The officer also located an unlocked safe in the rear seat of the vehicle that contained a yellow unmarked pill bottle containing two large, white pills that were identified through poison control as Carisoprodol, a schedule IV narcotic.
Based on these discoveries, Faciane was additionally charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (Felony) and Possession of a Controlled Substance (Misdemeanor). He was transported to the Criminal Justice Center and booked on the said charges according to Magri.
In another incident, Picayune Police were dispatched in reference to a suspicious person sitting in a vehicle at a Nicholson quick stop. The suspect, identified as Elmire France Davis, age 44, of 1404 Bender Street, Picayune, told the officer she had been sitting in the car for about 15 minutes. According to Magri, Davis was asked to exit the vehicle and the officer observed that Davis was unstable on her feet and her pupils were constricted. While speaking with the suspect, the officer believed Davis was under the influence of an intoxicating beverage.
The officer asked Davis if there was anything in the vehicle that he should know about and Davis replied “no”. The officer asked for and was granted permission by Davis to search the vehicle. The officer observed a black purse on the passenger floor board and inside the purse, the officer found a glass pipe with burnt residue, one plastic baggie containing a crystal-like substance believed to be Crystal Methamphetamine, and a half of a green pill identified as Alprazolam, also known as Xanax, a Schedule IV narcotic.
During the investigation, the officer had Davis’ license checked with NCIC and it came back as suspended. Davis was taken into custody and charged with Possession of a Controlled Substance (felony) and Possession of a Controlled Substance (misdemeanor) as well as Driving While License Suspended.
