Published: September 20, 2008 06:43 pm         

Deputies make two arrests, seek another suspect

Pearl River County — A warrant for trespassing and a marijuana plant riding shotgun led to the arrest of two individuals in two separate cases for the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Dept.. A third suspect is still at large.

The first incident started as a deputy paid a house call on Sept. 14, to attempt to arrest a Kecia Sones Herndon for trespassing. Deputies went to the 36 year-old woman’s home at 2258 Mississippi 53 in Poplarville but only found her husband, Jerry Shane Herndon at home, said Donnie Saucier, a Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department Chief investigator.

Investigators heard the deputies over the radio attempting to make contact with Kecia Herndon and since they were investigating possible drug activity at the home, they went to the home to assist, Saucier said. Deputies asked Jerry Herndon if they could look for his wife, and he consented.

A search of the home did not produce Kecia, but investigators did find precursor chemicals suspected to be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine. Jerry Herndon later indicated to the deputies and investigators that Kecia Herndon was home but ran out the back door upon seeing them pull up.

Jerry Herndon was charged with possession of precursor chemicals and also was arrested for an outstanding simple assault warrant, Saucier said.

Kecia Herndon is still at large and wanted on the trespassing warrant and now a warrant for possession of precursor chemicals has been issued for her arrest, Saucier said.

In a separate incident, a traffic stop by a narcotics investigator on Monday found an interesting passenger in the vehicle.

Saucier said the vehicle was pulled over because it was driven in a careless manner, crossing the center line on several occasions. The investigator pulled over the vehicle and found Thomas Ellis Roberts, 53, of 589 Oil Well Rd., Wiggins behind the wheel.

As the investigator approached the vehicle, a five-foot tall marijuana plant could be seen in the passenger seat of the truck. Saucier said he could not say if the plant was wearing its seatbelt.

The investigator also found a double-barrel shotgun in the vehicle. Roberts was charged with manufacture of marijuana while in possession of a firearm.