Officers with the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department worked two cases that involved synthetic marijuana, one involved a suspect who fled, while the second discovered evidence of dog fighting. 

On June 3, narcotics investigators conducted a stop on a vehicle traveling on North Beech Street after the officer noticed the driver failed to use a turn signal and was not wearing a seatbelt, Sheriff David Allison said.

As the officer approached the vehicle, the driver, identified as 35-year-old Desmond Robinson of 139 Byrd St., was seen to be holding something in his right hand, Allison said.

The officer asked Robinson to open his right hand, at which time Robinson fought with officers and threw the item on the ground under his vehicle before fleeing on foot toward the rear of a nearby business, Allison said. Officers gave chase, but Robinson headed back to his vehicle where he attempted to flee in the car, but officers were able to jump into the vehicle and remove the keys from the ignition before Robinson could drag the officer using the vehicle, Allison said. Officers took him into custody and recovered the item he discarded, finding synthetic marijuana, Allison said.

Robinson was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, no turn signal, no seatbelt, no insurance, resisting arrest by fighting, resisting arrest by fleeing, disorderly conduct, possession of paraphernalia and a probation violation held with the Mississippi Department of Corrections, Allison said.

The next day, narcotics officers served a search warrant on the home of 28-year-old Len Jones, located at 1918 Palestine Rd., where they found synthetic marijuana, a loaded handgun and scales and plastic bags typically associated with the sale of a controlled substance, Allison said. Additionally, the search turned up two pit bulls with visible signs of injury leading investigators to believe he was using the dogs for fighting purposes, Allison said.

Continued search of the home turned up recorded videos of dogs fighting each other, that included evidence Jones and other individuals were allegedly initiating the dogfights, Allison said.

Jones was charged with sale of a controlled substance, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, possession of a controlled substance and felony dog fighting, Allison said.

The animals were removed from the home by a Picayune Police Department’s Animal Control officer.

“Attending a dog fight is a felony crime,” Allison said.

He said investigators are continuing their investigation to identify the other people in the video and additional arrests will follow.