Covington-area: Arrests for Stolen Firearms, Illegal Narcotics, Animal Cruelty

Stolen firearms and illegal narcotics were located when detectives with the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Proactive Enforcement Unit went to a Covington residence to arrest a man for an outstanding warrant for animal cruelty. 

On August 8, 19-year-old Christopher Havers was arrested by the Proactive Enforcement Unit for possession of more than 2,600 Fentanyl tablets, two stolen firearms, a semi-automatic rifle and drug paraphernalia, which included packaging material and scales.  While gathering more evidence following that arrest, detectives located a video on Haver’s cellphone of him feeding a suspected Fentanyl tablets to a duck near a local area hospital. This discovery led to the acquisition of a warrant for his arrest for Felony Animal Cruelty.  

On December 3, 2024, detectives with the Proactive Enforcement Unit went to a residence in the 70000 block of 10th Street in Covington, to arrest Havers. When detectives arrived at the residence to arrest Havers, he fled and led detectives on a brief foot pursuit through neighboring backyards.  Detectives apprehended Havers and relocated back to the residence, where they observed narcotics in plain view. 

While searching the residence detectives located and seized five firearms. Two of those firearms had been reported stolen from St. Tammany and Tangipahoa parishes. Detectives also located and seized approximately 370 Fentanyl tablets, 38 Gabapentin capsules, one bottle of Codeine, two bottles of Promethazine, 53 Suboxone strips, small amounts of psilocybin mushrooms, THC oil and marijuana, along with one THC vape pen and two scales containing drug residue.     

Havers was arrested and booked on the charges of Possession of Schedule II with the Intent to Distribute, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Firearm in the Presence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, 2 Counts of Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Possession of Schedule I, Possession of Schedule III, Possession of Schedule IV, Possession of a Legend Drug, and Cruelty to Animals; Simple and Aggravated.

23 year-old Ethen Hyde, who was located at the residence, was arrested and booked on the charges of  Possession of a Legend Drug, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Firearm in the Presence of a Controlled Dangerous Substance, 2 Counts of Possession of a Stolen Firearm, Possession of Schedule I, and Possession of Schedule III.

40 year-old Heather Hyde, who was also located the residence, was arrested and booked on the charges of  Possession of a Legend Drug and 2 Counts of Possession of Schedule I.

“These individuals were clearly up to no good,” Sheriff Randy Smith said. “Our narcotics detectives continue to work hard to identify and arrest those individuals who are buying and selling illegal drugs and firearms in our community. Keeping our neighborhoods safe takes a partnership between residents and law enforcement. I encourage anyone who has information about illegal narcotics activity to call our anonymous tip line at  (1-888-GO-2-JAIL).

***All persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty***