FERRIDAY — Ferriday police found out Friday that one local resident was selling more than just fried chicken from a Delaware Street building.

Police recovered more than 8 ounces of marijuana from Ernest W. Smith, 57, after a patrol officer questioned another resident coming out of the building, said Ferriday Interim Police Chief Derrick Freeman.

FPD officer Lee Williams witnessed Justin Roach, 21, walking out from behind a Delaware Street building at approximately 8 p.m. Friday, and Williams stopped to question him, Freeman said.

“When the officer started pulling up, Justin put his hand over his mouth and looked concerned that the police was there,” Freeman said. “The officer thought there might be some burglarizing going on, so he began to question Justin, who immediately said he was buying drugs from inside the building.”

Freeman said Roach handed over an ounce of marijuana to the officer and told him Smith had just sold him the drugs inside.

The officer went inside the building, which Freeman said is where Smith sells fried chicken and other food, and questioned Smith about the marijuana.

“After the officer was given consent to search the building, we found more than 8 ounces of marijuana and a possibly stolen shotgun,” Freeman said. “The serial number was obliterated, so we’re still trying to figure out who the weapon belongs to and where it came from.”

Smith, 807 Delaware St., was arrested and charged with felony possession of marijuana, convicted felon in possession of a firearm and possessing of firearm with obliterated number.

Roach, 2242 E.E. Wallace Blvd., was arrested and charged with felony possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both remained at the Concordia Parish Jail with no bond set late Saturday.

Freeman estimates the street value of the marijuana is approximately $500.

“This is the result of great, routine police work by the officers at the Ferriday Police Department,” Freeman said. “We want our communities to be safe and drug free, and getting drugs off the streets is a great way to do that.”