Officers with the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department worked two cases that involved drugs, one involved the possession of a substance believed to be heroin while the second involved the alleged introduction of synthetic marijuana into the county jail.
The first case occurred on Aug. 29, when Sgt. Mike Petree saw a Pontiac Grand Am traveling along Interstate 59 at a high rate of speed in rainy conditions, said Sheriff David Allison.
During the stop Petree came into contact with the driver, 22-year-old Cody A. Perry of 18283 Hwy. 25 in Franklinton, La., and the passenger, 33-year-old Cecil H. Simmons of 201 Elaine St., Bogalusa, La., Allison said.
As Petree spoke with the occupants he noted their nervousness, so both were asked to exit the vehicle and a pat down was conducted for officer safety, Allison said.
During the pat down the officer found two pieces of foil that contained a substance suspected to be heroin in Simmons’ possession, leading him to be charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, Allison said.
The sheriff said Perry was issued a citation for careless driving and released on scene.
The second case took place on Sept. 6, as correctional officers at the county jail were checking visitors for the weekend inmate visitation. Allison said at one point during the day the correctional officers became suspicious of one of the visitors, identified as 31-year-old Naomi R. Clark of 15405 Way Cross Dr., Biloxi, who upon further investigation was found to be in possession of synthetic marijuana.
The correction officers then checked into who Clark was there to visit, determining the inmate to be 26-year-old David A. Keene of 880 Lindh Rd., Gulfport. Further investigation determined that Clark was allegedly trying to bring the substance to Keene, leading both to be charged with conspiracy to introduce a controlled substance into a correctional facility. Clark was additionally charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.