Published: July 03, 2008 03:34 pm      

Suspected drug dealers arrested

PICAYUNE — Confidential information has been paying off for the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department as their narcotics division makes more arrests.

Using that information on June 26, investigators arranged the purchase of crack cocaine, said Investigator Lt. Donnie Saucier. The investigators met up with the suspected drug dealers on Dickerson Street, just off of Stafford Road and made the transaction.

After the successful transaction a traffic stop was conducted and Melvin Nixon Jr., 30, of 114 Pat St., Carriere, and Sara Henry, 20, of 21 Frank Henry Rd., were taken into custody.

A search of the vehicle found marijuana, U.S. currency, including the currency used in the transaction, and some Percocets.

Evidence gathered during the purchase established Henry as a co-conspirator with Nixon. Nixon was charged with sale of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana, felony possession of a controlled substance. Henry was charged with possession of marijuana and conspiracy to sell a controlled substance.

On Monday the investigators gathered separate information that allowed them to obtain a search warrant, which they served at 463 White Chapel Rd., Carriere.

Four individuals were at the residence at the time of the search, three were inside while the fourth was in the carport, Saucier said. Inside the residence was Arcelon “Butch” Callais, 38 of 463 White Chapel Rd., Brandon “Elvis” Curry, also of 463 White Chapel Rd. and Sara Riley, 32, of 242 Calvera Colony, Memphis, Tenn.

David Browning of 20218 Albury Dr., Port Charlotte, Fla., was under the carport. The 51 year-old man tried to flee the scene into the adjacent woods when he saw what was going on but was immediately apprehended, Saucier said.

Investigators found a disassembled methamphetamine lab at the residence during the search, including a large black bag of precursor chemicals, numerous assault rifles and some handguns. About seven grams of individually packaged methamphetamine was recovered from the home along with scales and about $1,200 in U.S. currency, Saucier said.

As a result Callais was charged with manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of precursors, possession with intent to distribute and two counts of felony possession of controlled substance, including one for the possession of behavioral medication for which he had no prescription, Saucier said.

Curry, Riley and Browning were all charged with manufacturing a controlled substance, possession of precursors and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, Saucier said.

Saucier said the narcotics division was assisted by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics.