Two arrested for drug related charges

On October 20, 2018, at 6:40am, Picayune Police were dispatched to Cedar Grove Avenue and Westonia Street in reference to a suspicious vehicle described as a red Ford Mustang. The vehicle was reportedly shining flashlights in vehicles in the driveway of homes according to Picayune Police Assistant Chief Jeremy Magri.

As the officer patrolled the area, they observed the Ford Mustang in front of a residence near 700 block of Telly Road shining a flashlight at a vehicle parked in the driveway. The Mustang was moving very slowly in a southbound direction Telly Road in the wrong lane.

The officer conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle driven by Ronald Lee Cuevas, II, of 765 Burgetown Road, Carriere, who was observed to be extremely nervous. The officer asked Cuevas for his drivers license, but Cuevas handed the officer the money from his wallet instead. The officer advised Cuevas that he needed his identification information, not his money, as the officer gave the money back to Cuevas. Magri stated that Cuevas finally found and handed over his drivers license to the officer, but he was unable to provide proof of automobile insurance.

Through further investigation, it was learned that Cuevas (pictured) had allegedly left a gun laying on the ground in the area a few days earlier and he was attempting to locate the gun with the flashlights. At this time, the officer asked Cuevas to exit the vehicle and received consent to search the vehicle. While searching the vehicle, the officer located a backpack on the front passenger seat of the vehicle that contained several plastic baggies which are commonly used to distribute illegal narcotics according to Magri.

After the backpack was removed from the seat, the officer located a black digital scale commonly used to weigh narcotics for distribution. The officer also found a glass case on the passenger seat that contained a plastic baggie containing a clear crystal-like substance that appeared to be Crystal Methamphetamine.

Magri said Cuevas was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance. He was transported to the Criminal Justice Center, booked, and incarcerated.

While conducting a driver’s license safety checkpoint at Crosby Street near West Canal Street on October 20, 2018, at 11:56 p.m., Picayune Police stopped a gray Toyota Avalon driven by Meadow Leigh Ann Granat, age 18, of 215 Williams Ave, Picayune.

Picayune Police Assistant Chief Jeremy Magri stated that Granat (pictured) advised the officer that she did not have a valid drivers license nor did she have proof of motor vehicle insurance. As the officer continued to speak with Granat, he noticed she was extremely nervous and was visibly shaking.

After a short time of speaking with Granat, she relinquished custody of a clear plastic baggie that contained 3 tablets that were marked with a picture of “SpongeBob” believed to be Ecstasy and a green leafy substance believed to Marijuana, and two smaller plastic bags containing a green leafy substance believed to be Marijuana.

At this time, Granat was taken into custody and transported to the Criminal Justice Center. At the CJC, officers interviewed Granat and it was learned that she was going to sell the Ecstasy pills at a later date. Granat was booked and incarcerated for Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute according to Magri.