By Leonard Gray / L’Observateur / April 29, 1998

LAPLACE – Narcotics officers from St. John the Baptist Parish, working incooperation with the Kenner Police Department, made four arrests Monday night.

A quantity of cocaine and marijuana, one car, a handgun and $860 in cash were also seized in the raid on a drug transaction in progress in the parking lot of a gas station.

Lt. Octavio Gonzalez said the raid took place in the Texaco parking lot atBelle Terre Boulevard and Fairway Drive at 6:30 p.m. The four arrestedwere Adaryll “Homegrown” Duhe, 21, LaPlace; Quincy K. Castillo, 20,LaPlace; Jeffery A. LeCourt, 18, LaPlace; and Christopher Culwell, 20,Kenner.

Gonzalez said Duhe was the seller in the transaction and was driven to the site by Castillo. LeCourt was the security for the transaction with buyerCulwell.

Duhe, Castillo and Culwell were each charged with attempted distribution of cocaine and conspiracy to distribute cocaine. Duhe was also chargedwith distribution of cocaine and simple assault, Castillo was also charged with distribution of marijuana and Culwell was also charged with being a fugitive from St. James Parish and for possession of cocaine.LeCourt, on probation from an earlier drug conviction in St. John Parish,was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, illegal use of weapons during a felony and distribution of cocaine. LeCourt was foundwith a .22-caliber handgun in an ankle holster.Bonds, set by 40th Judicial District Judge Mary Ann Hotard Becnel, were as follows: LeCourt, $35,000; Culwell, $60,000; Castillo, $60,000; and Duhe, $60,500.

Gonzalez said the agencies received information and the drug bust was set up once they learned the time and place of the transaction. Cooperationand communication between the two police agencies led to the arrests and seizures.

Once the transaction was complete, the officers moved in for the arrests.

One attempted to stomp on a quantity of cocaine to scatter it and destroy evidence, but a vacuum was able to pick up the evidence, Gonzalez said.

No details were available at press time as to Duhe’s assault charge.

Photo: CONFISCATED DRUGS and cash are displayed by St. John Parish SheriffWayne L. Jones, the bounty of a drug bust Monday on Belle Terre Boulevardin LaPlace.

Photo by Leonard Gray.

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