Based on what Louisiana law-enforcement agents found at the scene, this may be the most "Louisiana" arrest that we've reported on in the first few weeks of 2025. Apparently, an alleged, traffic violation earlier this week led to an interaction between the suspect and deputies of the St. Tammany Parish Sherrif's Department. 

St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Department
St. Tammany Parish Sheriff's Department
loading...

According to reports, Ryan Howard of Picayune Mississippi was discovered to have some 80 pounds of marijuana in his vehicle at the time deputies pulled him over. Following his arrest in St. Tammany Parish deputies contacted detectives in Picayune, Mississippi.

The Picayune Police Department chronicled the arrest of Howard in a social media post on the department's Facebook Page. It is evident by the verbiage used in the post that the Picayune Police had been suspicious of Howard's activities long before his arrest in Louisiana.

A police crime scene tape close-up
aijohn784
loading...

In their social media post, Picayune PD described what they found when they executed a search warrant on Howard's last known address. According to their report detectives and officers recovered 51 pounds of marijuana, packaging materials for bulk sales, anabolic steroids, six ounces of mushrooms, thirteen vials of marijuana seeds, and fourteen firearms.

But it wasn't until officers searched the swimming pool at the Glenwood Street address did they realized the other "unique" item that the accused was hiding. That item or should we say items were eight different alligators.

Staff Photo
Staff Photo
loading...

The Biloxi Sun Herald Newspaper reported that the alligators found in the backyard swimming pool were between three and four feet long. The Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Parks were called in to relocate the reptiles. But Howard will be charged with their possession because in Mississippi it is illegal to own alligators without a permit.

We should also note that at the time of his arrest in St. Tammany Parish, the accused was not only operating a motor vehicle with 80 pounds of marijuana in it, but he also had his minor child riding with him at the time.

Police Chief Joe Quave of the Picayune Police Department suggested in his comments to the media that he had "no doubt" the accused, Ryan Howard, would be facing even more charges as their investigation continued.

U.S. Secret Service Most Wanted Fugitives

These fugitives are wanted by the U.S. Secret Service, and some have rewards of up to $10,000,000.

Gallery Credit: Billy Jenkins