South MS man’s arrest led authorities to marijuana, guns and 8 alligators, police say

A man from South Mississippi was arrested this week in Louisiana after sheriff’s deputies said they found him with 80 pounds of marijuana and Picayune Police who searched his home said they discovered steroids, mushrooms, guns and eight alligators he apparently kept in his pool.

The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office arrested Ryan Howard, 46, Tuesday night, police said. He is facing drug and traffic violation charges in Louisiana, according to an inmate roster.

Detectives in Picayune began suspecting in recent weeks that Howard “was involved in some illegal activity,” police said in a statement on social media. The St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office contacted Picayune Police after Howard’s arrest and local detectives searched his Glenwood Street home on a warrant, the statement said.

Police said detectives found 51 pounds of marijuana, packaging material for bulk sales, anabolic steroids, six ounces of mushrooms, 13 vials of marijuana seeds, 14 guns and eight alligators in his backyard pool. The alligators were between 3 and 4 feet long, Quave said.

It is unclear why Howard was allegedly keeping the alligators.

“We don’t know,” said Picayune Police Chief Joe Quave. “We’re guessing that he had those as pets.”

Quave said police believe Howard and his child, a minor, were bringing marijuana home to Mississippi.

Howard will face one count of trafficking a controlled substance in Mississippi, according to Quave. Mississippi law says it is illegal to own alligators without a permit. Police said they had “no doubt” Howard and others could face more charges.

Police said the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks would safely relocate the alligators.

This story was originally published January 15, 2025 at 2:03 PM.