Some 1.3 ounces of crack cocaine in over 100 small baggies and worth $3,800, as well as $3,000 cash seized as West Bank couple arrested in traffic stop

Michael Powell, held on crack cocaine charges.

Odette Patterson, held on crack cocaine charges.

Some 1.3 ounces of crack cocaine wrapped in 100 small baggies and worth $3,800, as well as $3,000 in cash, was seized as a West Bank couple was arrested Tuesday evening, March 25, in an Arabi traffic stop, Sheriff James Pohlmann said.

It was the largest crack cocaine arrest in St. Bernard Parish in several months, totaling 38 grams, officials said. The Westwego man who was driving and the Gretna woman passenger were apparently delivering the drugs and making sales in the parish when they were stopped.

The drugs were packaged in baggies ranging from values of $100 to $20. The total value was $3,800.

Neither suspects have major criminal histories or have been arrested in St. Bernard before.

Michael Powell, 36, 21 Morning Glory Lane, Westwego, and Odette L. Patterson, 37, 611 Fried St., Gretna, were arrested about 5:40 p.m. March 25 after the vehicle they were in was stopped by agents of the sheriff’s Special Investigations Division at West St. Bernard Highway and Rowley Boulevard in Arabi for traffic offenses, Sheriff Pohlmann said.

Baggies of crack were spotted in Patterson’s open purse and in bottles on Powell and otherwise inside the car, the sheriff said. Powell also had more than $3,000 in cash in his wallet.

Powell and Patterson were booked with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine and possession of more than 28 grams of crack cocaine. Powell also was booked with traffic offenses including improper lane use and failure to use a turn signal.

Powell was being held in St. Bernard Parish Prison in lieu of bond set at $68,000 and Patterson was jailed in lieu of $65,000 bond.