Police recover drugs, guns, and alligators at Picayune home

Picayune Police raided a house on Glenwood Street on Wednesday and confiscated more than 5o pounds of marijuana, mushrooms, steroids, 14 firearms — and eight alligators in a backyard pool.

The department’s Special Operations Division, working with St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, were investigating 46-year-old Ryan Howard, who lives on Glenwood, regarding illegal drug activity. When St. Tammany informed Picayune Police that Howard had been arrested in Louisiana, they executed a search warrant that netted the haul.

The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks are working with Picayune to capture and relocated the gators, who were all about 3 to 4 feet in length.

Residents in the neighborhood such as Jack Michael Spell, found it hard to believe that something like this could happen so close to where they live.

“It’s scary to think about. We saw the picture that the police department had posted with the evidence on the table, all the firearms, all the drugs. You just don’t think that something like that would happen in a neighborhood this quiet.”

St. Tammany arrested Howard and a 17-year-old female, who were transporting 80 pounds of marijuana, which Chief Joe Quave said they believed was headed to Mississippi for distribution. Howard has an outstanding warrant for trafficking a controlled substance.

Quave said the investigation is ongoing and more charges are likely. 

Quave said he wanted to thank St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office for their assistance and that he appreciates the hard work done by his officers.