Community Tips Lead to 4 Arrests in Mandeville

Four individuals have been arrested after anonymous tips from the community led members of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Division to a residence off Hoffman Road near Mandeville.

As part of their investigation, Detectives with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Proactive Enforcement Unit conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle Thursday (August 8, 2024) evening. The vehicle was occupied by four young adults and a 3-month-old infant. A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of a large quantity of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl, two stolen handguns and cash believed to be proceeds from drug sales.

Three of the four adults, 19-year-old Christopher Havers, 23-year-old Layla Bruno and 21-year-old Trinity Conigliaro, were placed under arrest, while the Louisiana Department of Children & Family Services was called to the scene for the infant.

Detectives then obtained a search warrant for a residence in the 22000 block of Third Street, where Havers and Bruno had been living. At the home, detectives found additional counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, an unlawfully possessed semi-automatic rifle with a drum magazine, illegal THC products and an assortment of drug paraphernalia associated with the use and distribution of illegal drug.

In total, detectives seized 2,617 counterfeit pills containing fentanyl, two stolen handguns, a semi-automatic rifle with a drum magazine, an assortment of illegal THC products, assorted drug paraphernalia and $1,040 dollars in cash

While at the residence, detectives also found a recorded cellphone video of another resident of the home, 20-year-old Julien Simmons, restraining a dog and blowing marijuana smoke into the dog’s face.

All four adults were booked into the St. Tammany Parish Correctional Center.  

“Our residents continue to send the message they will not tolerate drugs being sold in their neighborhoods. Thank you to the concerned citizens who called in these tips and to all of our citizens who continue to call us when they see or hear something suspicious,” Sheriff Randy Smith said. “Keeping drugs out our neighborhoods is a partnership between law enforcement and our residents. We are blessed to live and serve in an area that respects, appreciates and works with law enforcement.”

Sheriff Smith is asking anyone with information about narcotics, or other crimes, to submit a tip utilizing the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office website (www.STPSO.com), or by calling the narcotics tip line (1-888-GO-2-JAIL).