Disclaimer: All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
COVINGTON, La. (WGNO) — Three people were arrested following two unrelated drug busts in the Covington area.
On June 28, the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office reported that deputies pulled over a car on Highway 437 near River Road for a traffic stop.
During the stop, STPSO deputies said they came into contact with the driver, 29-year-old Matthew Shinners, who they believe “was operating his vehicle while under the influence of illegal drugs.”
In Shinners’ car, STPSO detectives said they found about half an ounce of cocaine, about half an ounce of methamphetamine and “items indicative of street level drug dealing.”
In a search of Shinners’ Bleu Lake Drive home, STPSO detectives said they recovered additional cocaine, clonazepam, cyclobenzaprine, suspected counterfeit Viagra and drug paraphernalia.
Shinners was arrested and faces the following charges:
- Driving on roadway laned for traffic
- No driver’s license on person
- Operating a vehicle while intoxicated
- Possession with the intent to distribute schedule II CDS (methamphetamine)
- Possession with the intent to distribute schedule II CDS (cocaine)
- Possession of a schedule IV CDS (clonazepam)
- Two counts of sale, distribution or possession of legend drug without prescription
On July 3, the STPSO searched a home on Violet Street in connection with an investigation involving 39-year-old Roman Perry and 34-year-old Andrea Gibson.
During the search, STPSO detectives said they recovered counterfeit pills suspected to contain fentanyl, hydrocodone pills, cocaine and a loaded gun.
According to the STPSO, two children lived with the couple inside the home that was searched.
STPSO investigators said $59,968 and a car “believed to have been used during drug transactions” were later recovered.
Perry and Gibson were arrested and each face the following charges:
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon
- Possession of a firearm in the presence of a CDS
- Possession of schedule II (hydrocodone)
- Possession of schedule II (fentanyl)
- Possession with the Intent to distribute schedule II (cocaine)
- Transactions involving drug proceeds
- Two counts possession of a CDS in the presence of a juvenile
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