By BEN LUNDIN

Staff Reporter

ST. ROSE – The St. Charles Sheriff’s Office recovered guns, drugs and money in 3-hour long drug bust that resulted in the arrest of five people at a house in St. Rose Thursday night.

Police recovered 2.1 grams of powder heroin, three grams of marijuana, 8.2 grams of crack cocaine, approximately 28.5 grams of powder cocaine, a 12-guage shotgun, a .40 caliber semi-automatic rifle, .25 and .45 caliber semi-automatic pistols, and $841, according to Capt. Pat Yoes of the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office.

Officers were alerted that several St. Charles residents were using a house at 287B Fourth St. in St Rose to distribute drugs and surrounded the home with 14 officers at approximately 7 p.m., following their acquisition of a search warrant.

During the operation police discovered four people inside the residence, including two juveniles, and three others outside the house.

Claude Taplette, 31, of St. Rose and Larry McCray, 29, of St. Rose, spotted officers while in McCray’s vehicle and attempted to flee via car but managed to escape pursuit for only three blocks, when they jumped out to attempt a getaway on foot. Police chased down both men less than 100 feet from the car, where they were immediately placed under arrest, according to the St. Charles Sheriff’s Office.

Two others within the home, Philnese McGhee, 29, of Destrahan and Candace Rowell, 25, of St. Rose, gave themselves up peacefully to officers.

Police allegedly found Darlinda Ellis, 48, of St. Rose outside the house with devices used take drugs and booked her with possession of drug paraphernalia.

McGhee and Rowell were each charged with possession with intent to distribute crack cocaine, possession of heroin, possession of a firearm while in possession of controlled substances and possession of controlled substances in the presence of juveniles. McCray was booked with all the formerly listed charges, but was also cited for possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, possession with intent to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute heroin, possession of marijuana and flight with a motor vehicle.

Taplette was cited for battery of a police officer and resisting an officer.

The two children in the home were turned over to family members following the incident, according to Yoes.