Two drug arrests made by Picayune Police during traffic stops
Picayune Police Department Assistant Chief Jeremy Magri provided information on a pair of recent arrests made by patrol officers that involved drugs.
The first occurred on December 2, 2018, at around 9:43 p.m. Patrol officers were conducting a safety checkpoint at South Beech Street and Williamsburg Avenue when they came in contact with a black 2011 Toyota Corolla occupied by a male driver and a female passenger identified as Kimberly Elizabeth Penton, age 23, of 24 Parkside Drive, Picayune.
Magri said that while the officer was speaking with the driver and the passenger, he observed both to be extremely nervous and physically shaking. Through further investigation during the traffic stop, it was learned that there may be a green leafy substance believed to be Marijuana that was left in the vehicle by someone else.
At this time, the officer had both subjects exit the vehicle. A female officer arrived at the scene and conducted a search on Penton and located a plastic bag containing a crystal-like substance believed to be Crystal Methamphetamine that was found in Penton’s bra.
Penton was arrested for Possession of a Controlled Substance (felony), transported to the Criminal Justice Center, booked and incarcerated.
In another arrest, Magri said that on December 6, 2018, at approximately 7:10 p.m., a patrol officer conducted a traffic stop at North Haugh Avenue and East 4th Street on a white 2006 Saturn Ion for no tag. The driver, identified as Krystal Dawne Hickman, age 30, of 20 Homestead Drive, Carriere, was unable to provide valid proof of insurance and a check of her driver’s license showed it was suspended.
The officer asked her to exit the vehicle and asked her if she had any items on her person before he was going to conduct a safety pat-down. At this time, Hickman turned over a pocket knife, two cigarette lighters, and a clear plastic container that contained a blackish / brown substance believed to be black tar Heroin.
Magri said Hickman was taken into custody for Possession of a Controlled Substance (felony). As the officer was placing Hickman in the back seat of the patrol car, he asked her again if she had anything else in regards to drug related items. Hickman then removed two Suboxone films from her bra area and turned them over to the officer.
Hickman was transported to the Criminal Justice Center and at this time a female officer performed a more thorough search and found a plastic bag in her front pants pocket containing a crystal like substance believed to be Crystal Methamphetamine. Magri said she was booked and incarcerated for two counts of Possession of a Controlled Substance (misdemeanor). Hickman was also cited for No Tag, No Insurance, and Driving While License Suspended.
