Alert narcotic detectives with the Slidell Police Department used a traffic stop to discover a garden containing about 150 marijuana plants in the Lincoln Park area of town Tuesday night.

The discovery of the arrest led to the arrest of three Slidell men: Johnny Hart Jr., 69, 3106 Terrance Ave. was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, and possession of a controlled dangerous substance within 1,000 feet of a school; Oris M. Nelson, 24, 733 Daney St. was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession of a firearm in the presence of a schedule I controlled dangerous substance, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled dangerous substance within 1,000 feet of a school, possession of an open container in a vehicle and an outstanding attachment for failure to appear in the Slidell City Court; and James M. Hart, 21, 1060 Martin Luther King Blvd., charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled dangerous substance within 1,000 feet of a school.

According to police spokesman Capt. Kevin Foltz, the Narcotics Unit had a house on Schley Street in the Lincoln Park area under surveillance when a blue Infiniti car driven by Nelson went by the house, and police saw Nelson allegedly hand something off to someone near the house. The detectives followed Nelson’s car until he pulled into the driveway at 3106 Tupelo. As police approached the car, they saw Nelson reach into the center console of the car. They ordered Nelson out of the car, and as he got out, the car continued to roll hitting a trash can. Detectives also saw Nelson drop a small white bag, which was later found to contain marijuana.

A gun, packaged marijuana and about 150 marijuana plants were seized by Slidell police Tuesday. Three local men were arrested on several charges. (Courtesy Slidell Police Department)

An officer got into the car to put it in park and he spotted a Smith & Wesson .40 caliber semiautomatic handgun in the center console of the car.

Other officers noticed several people standing around the front and side of the house, and upon further investigation found a small garden with about 150 marijuana plants growing in pots and in the ground. Detectives asked Nelson if the plants belonged to him, but Foltz said Hart told police the plants belonged to him. When police arrested Hart and his son James, they found a bag of marijuana on James’ person.

Foltz said if the marijuana plants had matured and been harvested, they would be worth around $20,000 on the street.