Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department officers worked two cases that led to the arrest of two suspects.
The first case began on Oct. 21, when narcotics investigators on patrol came across a vehicle traveling on the wrong side of the road along U.S. 11, said Sheriff David Allison.
When the officers attempted to conduct a stop on the vehicle, the driver accelerated and fled south on the highway. During his attempt to flee officers observed the driver, later identified as 19-year-old Charles Avontae Bridges of 19 Guilford Dr., Hattiesburg, fail to use his turn signal, run two stop signs and spin the tires on the vehicle as he accelerated, Allison said.
The chase ensued onto West North Street, where Bridges exceeded speeds of 60 miles per hour before turning onto Hwy. 26, where he maintained speeds close to 100 miles per hour, Allison said.
The pursuit continued across the Louisiana state line into Washington Parish and the city of Bogalusa until Bridges lost control of the vehicle and crashed into a ditch, Allison said.
After crashing the vehicle, Bridges fled into a nearby swamp on foot, which was subsequently surrounded by law enforcement officials from Pearl River County, Washington Parish and the city of Bogalusa, Allison said.
A K9 unit from the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department was sent to the location. Allison said that as soon as the K9 exited the vehicle, Bridges surrendered without further incident.
“That happens a lot when they hear that dog,” Allison said. “They don’t want anything to do with the dog and they give up.”
Allison that is one of the reasons K9s are so valuable to the department.
Allison said the investigation showed that Bridges fled because was allegedly transporting a large amount of marijuana, which he dumped out along the road while fleeing from law enforcement. The marijuana was not recovered because Bridges dumped it out of the bag, spreading it out along the roadway, Allison said.
Bridges was arrested by the Washington Parish Sheriff’s Department for aggravated fleeing and felony obstruction of the roadway. A hold was placed on him by the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department for felony tampering of evidence, running two stop signs, two counts of no turn signal, improper start, resisting arrest by fleeing, speeding 30 miles over the posted limit and driving on the wrong side of the road.
In a separate case that occurred on Oct. 30, narcotics investigators received a tip that 30-year-old Amber McKnight, who was wanted for three bench warrants, was at a home in Lumberton.
Allison said the investigators arrived at the home and searched it, finding McKnight hiding inside. While she was taken into custody, deputies recovered marijuana along with two Lortab pills and one Xanax pill from the area where she was found in the home, Allison said.
McKnight, of 307 Otho Seal Road, Lumberton, was charged with the three bench warrants, which were for possession of beer in a dry county, no tag light and driving while license suspended. She was additionally charged with felony possession of marijuana, felony possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.