Members of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Narcotics Division recently seized approximately 780 fentanyl pill from a man suspected to be dealing in the Covington area.
The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division recently received information regarding Derrick McDowell (DOB 6/22/1999) regularly distributing narcotics in and around the Covington area.
On April 18, Members of the STPSO Narcotics Division conducted a traffic stop on McDowell in the area of Joseph Road and Highway 36 near Covington. During that traffic stop, McDowell was found to be in possession of approximately 273 counterfeit pressed pills suspected to contain fentanyl. The pills were packaged for distribution, and McDowell was also found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia indicative of narcotics distribution.
This traffic stop led to the execution of a search warrant at McDowell’s residence in the 200 block of Vintage Drive near Covington.
Detectives discovered approximately 507 more counterfeit pressed pills suspected to contain fentanyl, approximately 23 dosage units of Vyvanse, approximately 2.8 grams of marijuana and more additional drug paraphernalia indicative of narcotics distribution during that search.
Approximately 492 of the suspected fentanyl pills were located in a WD-40 can that was outfitted with a hidden compartment on the bottom.
McDowell admitted to regularly distributing fentanyl pills to St Tammany Parish residents.
He was issued a summons for L.R.S. 40:966 Possession of Marijuana, and was arrested and booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Facility for the following charges:
2 counts of L.R.S. 40:967AC Possession with the Intent to Distribute Schedule II CDS (fentanyl)
1 count of L.R.S. 40:967C Possession of Schedule II CDS (Vyvanse)
2 counts of LRS 40:1023 Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
1 count of LRS 47:501 Failure to Register Vehicle
1 count of LRS 32:123 Failure to Stop/Yield
“Fentanyl is a very dangerous drug, and it is no secret that it is in our community,” Sheriff Randy Smith said. “Our Narcotics detectives are dedicated to identifying and arresting those individuals who are selling it in our community.”