COVINGTON, Ga. – Covington Police Department (CPD) officers arrested a man April 12 on gun and drug charges after suspicious activity caught their attention.

According to the CPD report, Officers Brandon Wilkerson and Rory Barber were patrolling in the area Laseter Street a little after midnight Wednesday when they observed a male, identified as Ricky Boakye, 35, walking on Laseter toward Harmony Place. The male reportedly stepped over the curb and began walking on private property in the shadows. According to the report, it appeared that Boakye was trying to avoid contact with the officers.

According to the report, as Wilkerson approached Boakye, he detected the odor of marijuana. As Wilkerson asked if he had anything illegal on him, Boakye reportedly appeared to be trying to find an escape route. As Wilkerson closed in to prevent Boakye from fleeing, the odor of marijuana reportedly got stronger.

While searching Boakye for illegal contraband, Wilkerson reportedly found a jar containing green leafy substance which appeared to be marijuana in the right side pocket of Boakye’s cargo shorts. After handing the jar to Barber, according to the report, Wilkerson placed Boakye in handcuffs.

Boakye reportedly also had a black bag hanging around his neck that was full of whippets. According to the report, whippets are used to get an instant high by breathing the gas vapor through the whippet canister.

Dispatch reportedly advised that Boakye had an active warrant for a parole violation. According to the report, Wilkerson placed Boakye in his patrol car and he and Barber began checking the private property path that Boakye had taken to see if anything illegal had been dropped.

According to the report, they located what appeared to recently used and dropped whippet canister. Near the canister, they also reportedly found a loaded handgun which also appeared to have been recently placed at the scene.

According to the report, Boakye was arrested and transported to the Newton County Law Enforcement Center and charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, reckless conduct and possession of marijuana. He will also be held on, according to the report, a non-bondable parole warrant.