Sheriff’s department seeks suspect, makes arrests
Published 12:03 am Sunday, May 24, 2009
One of two suspects is being sought for the alleged armed robbery of a motorist has been identified and arrested in Louisiana and an unidentified suspect in the case is still being sought.
The suspect now in custody has been identified as Brett Joseph Pugh, 19, of 12 Lee Miller Rd.
Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department Chief Investigator Donnie Saucier said the armed robbery took place on May 11. That day a man called the department to report that he had been robbed at gunpoint when a vehicle boxed him in.
One of the two suspects in the car that boxed him in got out and walked up the victim’s vehicle, pointing a gun at the victim’s head, Saucier said. The suspect, later determined as Pugh, demanded any valuables that were in the car. After Pugh got what he asked for, he jumped back in the vehicle he had gotten out of and both suspects fled.
Det. James Buie was able to establish Pugh as a suspect in less than six hours, Saucier said. Intensive investigation and hard work on Buie’s part gave the department enough evidence to charge Pugh with the crime.
Pugh was arrested in Jefferson Parish on an unrelated warrant from Pearl River County. He was extradited and currently is being held in the Pearl River County jail.
The department also has arrested several suspects on drug charges.
On Thursday, department investigators worked a case at 420 Progress Road where two suspects were charged with manufacture of a controlled substance and possession of precursor chemicals. Saucier said the two suspects were identified as 44 year-old Miranda Beech and 29 year-old George Matthews, both of 420 Progress.
Through surveillance and other investigative techniques the department was able to secure a search warrant for the residence. During the search the investigators were able to uncover several precursor chemicals, such as salt and camp fuel along with a working HCL generator.
Both suspects were charged with possession of precursor chemicals and manufacture of a controlled substance.
On Wednesday, another suspect was arrested on drug-related charges when investigators attempted to serve an arrest warrant for Joshua Jarrell, 29, of 792 Henleyfield McNeill Rd. Saucier said that when the investigators went to serve the warrant, they found only Jeremy Lee Jarrell, 27, who was outside the home. They asked to see some identification, so Jeremy Jarrell said he would have to go inside to get it. Saucier said the investigators followed Jeremy Jarrell into the home, and as they did, they detected the odor of burnt marijuana.
A search warrant was secured for the residence and investigators found about half an ounce of marijuana, digital scales and .3 grams of heroin. Other paraphernalia also were found. Saucier said Jeremy Jarrell was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of heroin. Joshua Jarrell is still at large.
A trespassing call lead the department to another suspect. Saucier said Ptl. Sgt. Danny Slade was sent to the location of the alleged trespassing and found Charles Rohrbacker, 34, 114 N. Shimmering Lane. Rohrbacker was taken into custody and his vehicle was searched. During the search, officers found two boxes of pseudoephedrine, digital scales, plastic baggies, and a precursor chemical.
He was charged with trespassing, possession of paraphernalia and possession of precursor chemicals.