Pearl River County Sheriff’s deputies handled two cases last week that involved a burglar being caught in the act, and a traffic stop leading to the discovery of heroin.

The department received a call about the burglary in the Poplarville area on Tuesday, said Chief Investigator Donnie Saucier. The homeowner came home to lights being on in his house.

The homeowner found the suspect, 21-year-old Joshua Simmons of 22 Entreken Rd., hiding under a bed, the chief investigator said. Saucier said the homeowner held the suspect at gunpoint under the bed until deputies arrived to take him into custody.

Deputies searched Simmons and found two rings in his pocket that belonged to the homeowner and then charged Simmons with residential burglary.

Subsequent interviews and investigation by Detective Brandon Carr determined Simmons was in the process of burglarizing the home when the homeowner arrived. Saucier said the case is still under investigation, and Simmons may be responsible for other burglaries and larcenies.

On Monday, narcotics detective Daniel Quave made a traffic stop on Jasmine Drive for careless driving, and came into contact with the driver, 31-year-old James B. Williams of 4 Colonial Lane, Carriere, and passenger 31-year-old Stephen M. Hull of 4 Berry Lane, Carriere. Saucier said when their vehicle pulled over and stopped, both Williams and Hull got out of the vehicle and began to approach Quave, prompting the deputy to pat down both men for his own safety.

Quave found a syringe on Hull during the pat down, which gave the deputy probable cause to search the vehicle, Saucier said. Quave found another syringe and a small bag containing a white powder substance in a common area of the vehicle, the chief investigator said. Field tests of the substance determined it was heroin, leading to both men being charged with possession of heroin and possession of paraphernalia, Saucier said.