Suspect who fled is now in custody

Published 10:17 pm Saturday, September 27, 2008

A suspect who ran into the woods during a recent attempt to serve a trespassing warrant has been found.

Also, a man arrested for allegedly possessing precursor chemicals used in the manufacture of methamphetamine was released on bond only to be arrested again the next day. A separate incident involving a routine parole check led to the arrest of four other suspects.

Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department Chief Investigator Donnie Saucier said Kecia Sones Herndon was picked up Tuesday in Poplarville after alluding deputies for more than a week.

Sign up for our daily email newsletter

Get the latest news sent to your inbox

The effort to take Herndon into custody began on Sept. 14, when deputies and investigators attempted to serve a trespassing warrant on her. During that attempt, several precursor chemicals were found at the home. Only Herndon’s husband was taken into custody since she was not there. Investigation into the scene revealed that Herndon was at the home when deputies pulled up but ran into the woods upon their arrival. Tuesday, deputies spotted Herndon along the road on several occasions but she ran into the woods each time, Saucier said.

After several attempts she was taken into custody Tuesday on the trespassing warrant and on a possession of precursor chemicals warrant issued following the search of her home on Sept. 14, Saucier said.

In a separate incident, a suspect caught with what was believed to be precursor methamphetamine chemicals was released on bond only to be picked up again the next day. The suspect’s recent stint with the law began Monday when a call for help with a traffic stop by the Mississippi Highway Patrol led to the arrest of a suspect for an alleged methamphetamine lab. Saucier said the department responded to help the trooper on Monday with the traffic stop. After the trooper issued a citation to the driver, identified as Mike J. Noell, 44, of 208 Dairy St., Poplarville, for speeding 73 in a 55 mile per hour zone, investigators then pressed their own charges. The responding deputy observed several chemicals and items believed to be used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.

Noell and his passenger, Roxanne Sue Burks, 25, of 104 S. Magee St., Poplarville, were charged with possession of precursor chemicals, Saucier said. The 2003 Dodge Ram 1500 SIT was seized by the department.

Noell was released on the bond on Wednesday, and by Thursday investigators had him in custody again. As the investigators were in route to Picayune to attend a meeting, they saw a passenger in a silver Chevrolet Cavalier on Savannah Millard Road throw a bag out the passenger side window into the ditch. The vehicle was stopped since the situation seemed strange, Saucier said. Noell was found in the passenger seat and the bag was recovered from the side of the road.

In the bag was what appeared to be a methamphetamine lab, so Noell was taken into custody again for possession of precursor chemicals. The Cavalier, which apparently also belonged to Noell, was seized. Noell will not be able to bond out again until the first charge of possession of precursor chemicals has been concluded. His previous $30,000 bond is now revoked, Saucier said.

“The lack of intelligence on the part of some of these drug (offenders) never ceases to amaze me,” Saucier said.

In a separate incident on Monday, investigators assisting Mississippi Department of Corrections officers with a parole checkup at 204 Whitesands Rd., Poplarville, found several persons to be violating the law. That checkup led to the arrest of 29 year-old Ernest Raymond Matthews, 34 year-old Clay Marcus Chaney, 24 year-old Michael Eric Richardson and 28 year-old Felicia Lynn Miley.

In the home, a handgun, a rifle, marijuana, scales and Lortabs were found by investigators. The marijuana and Lortabs apparently were bagged up individually for resale, Saucier said. Matthews, of 204 Whitesand Rd., was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana. Chaney, of 434 Highland Place, Stonewall, was charged with possession with intent to distribute marijuana and possession of a firearm by a felon. Richardson, of 204 Whitesand Rd., was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of marijuana and Lortabs with intent to distribute. Miley, of 1620 Monroe St., Bogalusa, La., was charged with possession of a firearm by a felon and possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, Saucier said.