10 teens arrested at Covington pot party

By Erik Sanzenbach
St. Tammany News
Published on Friday, January 8, 2010 8:51 AM CST



While investigating an open fire in a River Forest subdivision home Monday night, a Covington police officer stumbled on a pot party and 10 people were arrested.

According to Covington Police Department spokesman Capt. Jack West, the police man was driving down Beth Drive in the subdivision, when he spotted a large number of cars parked in front of 4 Beth Drive. He also spotted an open fire in the house’s back yard.

As the officer was walking toward the house, to tell the owners they could not have an open fire nor could the cars be parked in the street, he saw three men in the driveway, and he told them to walk towards his patrol car. As they were walking, West said one of the men allegedly took a 9mm Beretta handgun out of the waistband of his pants. West said the suspect did not point the gun, just held it in his hand.

The gun, marijuana and drug paraphernalia found at a Covington pot party Monday night. (Submitted Photo)

The officer called for backup, and the armed man, Christopher Stonecypher, 19, 17030 Bomoka Road, Covington, was arrested for illegal carrying of a weapon.

The officers then went into the back yard where they found nine other people, five males and four females in possession of marijuana and drug paraphernalia. The nine were arrested and taken to CPD headquarters and each were issued summons for simple possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The nine are, Allen Didier, 18, 2607 W. 15th St., Covington; Michael Roussy, 19, 4 Beth Drive, Covington; Tobert Belloni, 19, 310 W. St. Mary Drive, Covington; Jeffery Brown, 18, 71424 Parc Wood Drive E., Covington; Sarah Luecke, 19, 81430 S. Huckleberry, Covington; Jade Sanzone, 18, 26546 April Lane, Ponchatoula; Gabrielle Sessum, 19, 82296 Five Lakes Road, Bush; and Meghan Lopez, 18, 56 Lurline Drive, Covington.

Stonecypher was arrested only on the weapons charge West said.


Copyright © 2010 St. Tammany News

Comments

52 comment(s)

    tokey the bear wrote on Feb 9, 2010 12:16 PM:

    " What ever became of that fire? "

    smoke weed wrote on Feb 9, 2010 11:47 AM:

    " " ANNUAL AMERICAN DEATHS CAUSED BY DRUGS
    TOBACCO ........................ 400,000
    ALCOHOL ........................ 100,000
    ALL LEGAL DRUGS .............20,000
    ALL ILLEGAL DRUGS ..........15,000
    CAFFEINE .........................2,000
    ASPIRIN ...........................500
    MARIJUANA ...................... 0 " "

    Hoss wrote on Jan 21, 2010 2:10 PM:

    " Pearl, how many kids do you have? "

    stfuwakeup wrote on Jan 21, 2010 4:34 AM:

    " Like I was saying nothing about what goes on in our world, people thirst for idiots like you, honestly. How about you go check on your daughter, or son, Guarantee you they are smoking pot :) "

    Stfuwakeup wrote on Jan 21, 2010 4:32 AM:

    " Wakeup you KNOW Absolutely NOTHING because you're a dumb idiot that thinks he can comment on garbage, when in reality I laugh at you because your life sucks so much and even your whole schedule that you come on here and try to act like you are actually something. First of all, yea that's a preposition, I clearly suggest you learn what it, because honestly, you are your 2 inch brain know jack about the world, the economy, and defiantly nothing about "

    JDB wrote on Jan 21, 2010 12:03 AM:

    " Pearl,
    Nobody cares about your 16 year old opinion. You have not experienced NEARLY enough to form an opinion on the subject so you may as well stay out of it. BTW you're too young to use the term "now a days" "

    HORSEFLY wrote on Jan 19, 2010 1:43 PM:

    " There is a very simple solution to this problem. It will provide a more proactive professional law enforcement presence in the area. Will probably save the citizens of Covington a lot of money and just as important, will provide the citizens of Covington with a group of law enforcement professionals who are held accountable based on what is right and wrong, versus personal agendas. What is this plan? Let Sheriff Strain take over, he will fix the mess. "

    Concerned Citizen wrote on Jan 19, 2010 1:37 PM:

    " Am I the only one who has written a letter to the U.S. Attorney about the CPD? Its against the law to waste tax payer money. "

    Ridiculous wrote on Jan 17, 2010 1:12 AM:

    " Is this what our tax dollars are paying for? Instead of ruining the lives of these kids why doesn't the CPD bust a meth lab or pop a crack dealer? There's a reason why this parish is called St. Slammany. Somebody's gotta pay for that court house. Why not a couple of kids who are just beginning their lives? "

    Pearl wrote on Jan 16, 2010 10:45 AM:

    " Parents now a days are babying their children and they don't know how to discipline them, usually because they are scared of them and they don't want their "precious angels" to hate them. In the long run they will be happy you did it. Some parents now a days need to grow a pair and stand up to their kids and DISCIPLINE them.
    BTW. I am 16 yrs.old "

    Pearl wrote on Jan 16, 2010 10:38 AM:

    " Some of the people on here are very idiotic and seem to be terrible parents. When you become a parent you are SUPPOSED to teach your children right from wrong!!! They are NOT to side with their children just because they have done the same things in their teenage years.Parents are supposed to prevent their children from making the same mistakes!!!!! I think the police officer had the right to take the teens away and book them and really they should have charged the parents as well for being okay with this crime! "

    wakeup wrote on Jan 15, 2010 3:54 PM:

    " That's the problem with kids today. Their parents side with them when they do something wrong. It's the cop's fault that they had an illegal fire in a residential neiborhood and it's the chief's fault they had illegal drugs and it's the police department's fault they had a gun. No wonder they are in trouble.

    They screwed up - they should pay a price. If you had let them pay the price at a younger age maybe they wouldn't carry a record with them through adulthood. "

    concerned citizen wrote on Jan 15, 2010 1:07 PM:

    " It is time for a shake-up at the CPD. My vote will go to the Mayor who says he or she will be replacing the Chief, and staying focused on bringing credability back to the department.
    It is time for someone to start looking closley at the activities of the CPD, and the lack of professionalism displayed by some of its more senior officers. "

    NSCitizen wrote on Jan 15, 2010 10:30 AM:

    " I wonder if the CPD could use this same tactic to battle the overt criminal activity that occurs on the streets in Covington. You know, the drug dealers - peddlers that stand on the street corners and sell crack. Pot is illegal and I'm not defending any of that. However, it appears to me that it is much easier to make arrests such as this, instead of doing the harder police work and going after the real problems or dealers. "

    Parent wrote on Jan 14, 2010 2:53 PM:

    " Bottom line is not that these young people broke the law, which is debatable - no, the bottom line is that the Covington Police knew that teenagers were having a party, and utilized a campfire as an excuse to step foot on private property, which they never should have done, and is a gross abuse of perceived power. "

    ITSTHELAW wrote on Jan 14, 2010 7:44 AM:

    " Why have laws if we should bend them? These young adults can attended DARE and know that it is against the law.....and this kid that had the gun in his truck because he was at the range with his father, IF YOU ARE OLD ENOUGH TO PRACTICE SHOOTING A GUN, THEN KNOW THE LAWS THAT PERTAIN TO OWNING A GUN, concealed weapon!!!! Let the record show they learning steps in life. "

    this is ridiculous wrote on Jan 13, 2010 5:24 PM:

    " HALF OF THIS ENTIRE PICTURE IS ONE HOOKAH PIPE THAT WAS BROKEN DOWN FOR THE PICTURE. IT IS STRICTLY USED FOR SMOKING FLAVORED TOBACCO, NO MARIJUANA HAD EVER BEEN SMOKED OUT OF THIS AND THE FACT THAT THEY BROKE EVERYTHING DOWN TO ITS MOST BASIC COMPONENTS IS STUPID. THE CPD HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO IN COVINGTON AND WOULD LOVE TO MAKE IT LOOK LKE THEY MADE SOME BIG BUST. COVINGTON POLICE, GET A LIFE. "

    JDB wrote on Jan 13, 2010 5:21 PM:

    " WORRIEDMOTHER, do you really think that the parents of successful people condone the use of marijuana. Don't be ignorant. None of them do. Think back to when you were 18 years old. Did you drink alcohol, which is an illegal substance for anyone under 21? I am sure that you did. Did your parent condone this? Probably not. The truth is that as a parent you can only do so much and from there on it is up to the kid to make his decisions. Do not bring the parents into this because you are CLUELESS to who thesepeopleare. "

    Johnny P. wrote on Jan 13, 2010 4:41 PM:

    " The St. Tammany Parish police department should be ashamed of themselves. Absolutely rediculous and such a terrible waste. "Bottom line, they broke the law." They experimented with misdemeanor drugs on private property. They should never have been intruded upon by these apparently overzealous police. Police power is consistently abused, and it's stories like this that lead to hate and disrespect to law enforcement. "

    Mom wrote on Jan 13, 2010 10:50 AM:

    " Worried Mother:I know the parents ofthe teens who were arrested;no one condones the use of marijuana or alcohol but as parents,we understand that kids are going to do and try things as most of us did in our teens. What is ridculous is the lack of truth in this story and the negative publicity it has given to those who otherwise do not cause trouble(8of them are doing well in college)The fact of arrest for wrong doing is not the outrage;the unnecessary publicity is.How would you like to have a 1/2 page article detailing your mistakes?REAL criminals don'tget thismuch publicity! "

    Evan wrote on Jan 13, 2010 10:17 AM:

    " Hey Mom, your sons potential future employers will probably find this too! Guess for such a bright kid he should have thought about the consequences of commiting a crime, regardless of whether or not its a "big deal", which is certainly debatable. Bottom line, he broke the law. We may not agree with the law, but its probably gonna haunt your kid even after you expunge it..a simple google search will always bring this up..not good for your boy. "

    Ya boy wrote on Jan 13, 2010 1:44 AM:

    " Some of this story is false. I was there and it didn't happen as stated.. "

    Worried Mother wrote on Jan 12, 2010 11:42 PM:

    " This is whats wrong with children parents who think there is nothing wrong with smoking marijuana. Because most of the parents who say this are smoking it too .Be a parent not a buddy or a friend are someone too be cool with. This is why our children end up doing the wrong things and get other children too do things that they would not do becaue of parents who say there is nothing wrong with smoking marijuana . I know a lot of parents try too teach there children right from wrong .Parents like u make it hard .sad!!! "

    K wrote on Jan 12, 2010 5:51 PM:

    " I know all the people mentioned in the article, and I can assure that none of them deserve the arrest or the negative press. "

    Mom wrote on Jan 12, 2010 4:53 PM:

    " I looked for weeks after graduation to find my son's name in the paper for having been an honor graduate of Covington High ranked 6 of 379 students with a 4.4 GPA Couldn't find it. Thanks for dedicating a half page to his mistake. I agree what he was doing is wrong and he should and will be punished; but to get a half page write up seems to be bordering on slander to me. Every arrest does not get this kind of attention. Why badger these kids? Why don't we see some real criminal busts? These kids werewrongbutthiswriteupisverymisleading. "

    JDB wrote on Jan 12, 2010 2:52 PM:

    " I am going to address every person that I feel is FULL of ignorance.
    First off CC, YOU get a life and don't beleive EVERYTHING you read. The gun WASNT tucked in his waistband, and he was not in physical contact with the gun when the police officer showed up.
    Secondly, DAVID MORRIS, okay so the cop did not know the gun was unloaded, and he did his job by restraining them, but he continued to act as if the people were trying to shoot him after he realized the gun was unloaded and the man had no problem "

    JDB wrote on Jan 12, 2010 2:51 PM:

    " letting the officer take the gun and put him in cuffs.
    Thirdly, PARENT, you mix alcohol with ANYTHING and you can die. Mix it wit tylenol by accident and you could die. Take cough syrup for a cough and forget and drink you can die. Anything so get over yourself. You say kids like to mix the two; are YOU a kid? NO. I'd say that 95% of marijuana smokers will not TOUCH alcohol when they have been smoking. Actually, MANY pot smokers do not even enjoy being drunk which is why they smoke. You three need a life. "

    Jimmy 6 wrote on Jan 12, 2010 1:08 PM:

    " Private property, cop stops his car gets out and walks onto private property, because he sees a camp style fire in the backyard - Find a real criminal please. This is rediculous, and a massive waste of tax dollars. Apparently there is an over staffing of police in St. Tammany Parish if they have nothing more important to do. Another example of gov't waste. "

    free speech wrote on Jan 12, 2010 11:30 AM:

    " Well it's a good thing BooBoo's group didn't get them....they might have been pistol whipped or worse. Wonder if CPD wrote a report? "

    Anonymous wrote on Jan 11, 2010 10:56 PM:

    " A bonfire at night in a quiet, residential area of Covington is guaranteed to attract the attention of police. Add an illegally-carried 9mm handgun, marijuana, and drug paraphernalia to the scene, and these "kids" got exactly what they were asking for. "

    Parent wrote on Jan 11, 2010 1:43 PM:

    " And every kid I know that uses or has experimented is a proud graduate of the DARE program. That's a waste of tax $$. Alcohol is legal because it is fairly easy to regulate and is made from food therefore digested. It doesn't linger in your system for weeks or months. Marijuana will be difficult to regulate because it's easy to grow. Legal age needs to be reconsidered as well. These rights of passage should not leave an indelible mark on their record or their lives. Make the leagal age 21 for everything even dying for your country! "

    Parent wrote on Jan 11, 2010 1:40 PM:

    " It cost an 18yr old friend his life. Marijuana is a natural antiemetic. When combined with alcohol, it may stop the body's natural defense to vomit if you over drink. You pass out with alcohol poison that may result in death from poison or suffocation. While marijuana is not the cause it adds danger to the situation since teens will likely do both. It definitely needs to be regulated. As a side note, I don't think 18 and 19 are typically the teens in danger. By this age they have done the research and know the side affects. "

    Parent wrote on Jan 11, 2010 1:39 PM:

    " As a single mom of teens I would like to say that on several occasions parties have been broken up much bigger than this one. Alcohol was available in every instance and minors were arrested on summons. Parents had to go retrieve their children & their summons. Children and adults were forced to attend Diversion Classes. I believe that, in St. Tammany, both marijuana (illegal) and alcohol (when being consumed illegally) are treated equally. And while kids need to have room to be kids, generally speaking they do not recognize their limitations. They mix and combine drugs and alcohol. "

    Viewer wrote on Jan 11, 2010 1:14 PM:

    " I agree with J. Bird, since the CPD saw there was no trouble, the kid offered up the UNLOADED gun immediately, there was no reason BIG write up. Let these kids learn a lesson without having their futures put in jeopardy.

    Did anyone mention that of the ten kids 8 are enrolled in college and are good students? Where is the write up on that? "

    CC wrote on Jan 11, 2010 7:55 AM:

    " Are all of you kidding me???? Marijuana IS ILLEGAL! Period! You smoke it or have a party with it............you get arrested! If you want to complain about the police doing their job you're nuts! Go to Mexico if you want to do illegal drugs and not be bothered! As far as the gun.........went to the shooting range earlier....put the gun away afterwards! Don't just slip it in your waistband! Obviously he just forgot their was a metal lump in his pants! Get a life kids!!! "

    too funny wrote on Jan 11, 2010 12:02 AM:

    " To all you pot heads out there.. what you say and have researched does seem to make sence, but unless you want to be arrested I suggest moving to california. Bc for the time being...pot is still illegal.and the cops have to enforce these silly laws.its their job.sorry kidos "

    MIles Farmer wrote on Jan 10, 2010 9:42 PM:

    " I have known Chris Stonecypher through boy scouts for a while. He is a responsible person who has graduated well beyond the expectations of a standard high ranking eagle scout. I know Chris' outdoorsy side and can agree to the gun range story. Knowing others on this list i am disappointed that there responsible night of fun had been ruined do to carless mistakes that would have happened whether or not drugs were involved. "

    David Morris wrote on Jan 10, 2010 7:24 PM:

    " I find it funny someone posted that the gun was unloaded, the question is how is a police officer going to know that. By the time he asks the person holding the gun excuse me sir is that gun loaded?, the police officer could have been shot and killed. Very simple if you don't want to get hurt don't take hold of a gun. Tell the police you have a gun and tell them where it is at. "

    ME wrote on Jan 9, 2010 2:43 PM:

    " ANNUAL AMERICAN DEATHS CAUSED BY DRUGS
    TOBACCO ........................ 400,000
    ALCOHOL ........................ 100,000
    ALL LEGAL DRUGS .............20,000
    ALL ILLEGAL DRUGS ..........15,000
    CAFFEINE .........................2,000
    ASPIRIN ...........................500
    MARIJUANA ...................... 0 "

    ME wrote on Jan 9, 2010 2:42 PM:

    " in revenue if it were taxed at the same rates of alcohol and tobacco.
    Legalize it, tax it, and help save the economy from this recession it has been experiencing. However, there should still be a required age that a person must be to smoke it, just as there is for cigarettes and alcohol. The legalization of marijuana would also eliminate people from unintentionally purchasing marijuana that is laced with other harmful drugs, and the government could regulate THC levels that are in the marijuana sold. "

    ME wrote on Jan 9, 2010 2:42 PM:

    " marijuana; if any police officer catches you with this less dangerous “drug” then you will instantly be arrested no questions asked.
    It has been proven that marijuana is America’s number one cash crop; so why is it illegal? Why not take power out of “drug” dealers’ hands who do not pay any taxes on the income they receive by dealing it? Jeffery Miron, a professor at Harvard, carried out a study that showed that legalizing marijuana would save the government $7.7 billion per year. He also estimated that the legalization would bring in $6.2 billion "

    ME wrote on Jan 9, 2010 2:41 PM:

    " This is physically impossible. Normal methods of smoking, such as joints, typically result in somewhere around 10-15% of the THC actually being consumed. The rest is just wasted.
    I am also baffled by the fact that typically, if a teen is caught with alcohol at an event such as a Mardi Gras parade, no arrests are made; the teen is usually required to simply pour out the alcohol and be on their way. The worst that would happen to them is that they would receive an MIP (minor in possession). But this is not the case with "

    ME wrote on Jan 9, 2010 2:41 PM:

    " one fight and the people involved are drunk. However, I have NEVER seen two people even get into a serious argument while under the influence of marijuana. Marijuana is a downer; if anything it makes a person unmotivated to get up and drive or exert too much energy such as by getting into a fight.
    There have been many cases in which people have died or been hospitalized from alcohol poisoning, and yet in order to overdose on marijuana a person would have to simultaneously smoke twenty - one gram joints instantly, and absorb ALL the THC in them. "

    ME wrote on Jan 9, 2010 2:40 PM:

    " Why is marijuana illegal? Given the current laws that our government has on things such as alcohol and cigarettes it makes no sense.
    As an eighteen year old male who attended many high school parties and many college parties, I am speaking from experience when I say that the MAJORITY of the time, a person is much more dangerous when under the influence of alcohol than they are when they are under the influence of marijuana. I have been to many parties where the majority of the people attending were drunk. At these parties there is typically AT LEAST "

    David Morris wrote on Jan 9, 2010 9:32 AM:

    " This man is lucky he was not shot. I was not there but if this man took out a gun and was holding onto it, the police officer had every right to kill him. It only takes a split second for someone to raise a gun and fire once they have it in their hand. "

    Viewer wrote on Jan 9, 2010 8:55 AM:

    " So there were ten kids in the back yard of private property not bothering anybody. The kid with the gun offered it up right away, nothing to hide. From what I've heard he had been to the shooting range that day. Go find the real criminals. These kids were not causing any trouble. CPD did your job but it doesn't merit this big write up. Please make a real bust. "

    dzddad wrote on Jan 8, 2010 9:28 PM:

    " When is Louisiana going to decriminalaize / legalize the use of Marijuana for medical reasons? People were taught that Marijuana is bad, this is far from thr truth...do the research!!! "

    Gregory Denn wrote on Jan 8, 2010 6:49 PM:

    " Why are the cops harrassing some young adults for smoking a little weed? They weren't driving or bothering anyone, but now they have this on their record. When are we going to get past this stigma that marijuanna is so bad. It will soon be legal in California without a perscription. Covington police should be looking for bigger fish to fry. "

    bigdave wrote on Jan 8, 2010 5:05 PM:

    " why don't you report the real story that gun was empty and he was taken it in the house because he had left it in his truck by mistake after going to a shooting range with his dad. "

    Anonymous wrote on Jan 8, 2010 3:00 PM:

    " of so called "drug dealers" hands and force them to pay taxes. This would also allow the government to regulate THC levels and eliminate people from unintentionally buying laced marijuana. Seriously to overdose on marijuana, you literally have to smoke almost twice your body weight. This is physically impossible without passing out first. And yet you can die from alcohol poisoning and overdose on simple Tylenol. None of it makes sense. I can rant and ramble all day but our dumb law makers and government will never listen. "

    Anonymous wrote on Jan 8, 2010 2:55 PM:

    " or teens that have been smoking? Not just teens, but ANYONE. Why is marijuana illegal and alcohol is not? And teens who are drinking at a party do not get in nearly as much trouble. Tell me why marijuana is legal or medical use in some states and why you can have a grower's permit in California and yet it is illegal. EVERYONE knows that is should not be illegal, but our government is TOO STUPID to realize that they have outlawed americas #1 cashcrop that could potentially help the economy. Legalize it, tax it, take the power out "

    J. BIRD wrote on Jan 8, 2010 1:27 PM:

    " The memories where the police were actually concerned and interested in the guidance roles their postions afforded them toward the ignorant youth (I was), instead of the income now generated by an arrest (in court cost, lawyers fees, fines and the multitude of programs required, on top of taxes!) makes me pray in thanks that I was allowed to make mistakes an not suffer a life full of closed doors because of them.
    We send our youth to forign lands to die, upholding the strangle-hold the rich oil families have on America and don't allow them to be kids "

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