On Monday, Jan. 26, two suspects were arrested for shoplifting and possession of drugs.

At 2:52 p.m., Picayune Police Department officers were dispatched to a local business on Highway 43 N. in reference to an alleged shoplifting, Picayune Police Department Assistant Chief Jeremy Magri said.

Prior to their arrival at the local business, the officers were advised that one of the suspects, later identified as Woodrow Head, 29, of 708 Brown Ave. in Purvis, fled the scene on foot, Magri said.

Upon the officers’ arrival, they observed Head running on East Sycamore Road and Adcox Road. The officers said Head walked into a nearby yard and started placing the suspected stolen items inside a garbage can, Magri said. The items included boxer briefs, white socks, white tank tops and a pair of black socks, which totaled to $34.24 worth of stolen items, Magri said.

The officers took Head into custody and recovered the stolen items to take back to the business, Magri said. Once the officers arrived at the store, they spoke to one of the employees, who identified Head as the suspect.

Afterwards, Head told officers that he wanted to retrieve some items from a vehicle in the parking lot outside the business. Once the officers approached the vehicle, they noticed it was occupied by a male subject, later identified as Emmett Plummer, 25, of 19493 Worthman Road in Saucier, Magri said.

Upon speaking to Plummer, the officers noticed Plummer’s eyes were dilated and his speech was slurred, Magri said. They ordered Plummer to exit the vehicle and place his hands on the vehicle. Plummer got out of his car, but placed his hands inside his pockets, prompting the officers to order Plummer several more times to place his hands on the vehicle, but Plummer failed to comply, Magri said.

At this point, the officers arrested Plummer for disorderly conduct failure to comply. Afterwards, officers conducted an inventory of the vehicle, finding one clear plastic bag containing a white crystallized substance believed to be crystal methamphetamine and two syringes, Magri said.

Both men were transported to the Criminal Justice Center, where they were booked and incarcerated. Head was charged with shoplifting first offense, and for an outstanding warrant by the Picayune Police Department for contempt of court, while Plummer was charged with possession of controlled substance felony, possession of paraphernalia, disorderly conduct and public drunk, Magri said.

Head’s bond was set to $1,709 and Plummer’s bond was set to $16,250, Magri said. Both men are still in the custody of the Picayune Police Department.

In a separate case that occurred on Tuesday, Jan. 27, a man was charged with the possession of drugs by the Picayune Police Department.

While on patrol, an officer noticed a vehicle traveling westbound on Bruce Street. The driver, later identified as David Hight, 27, of 556 Butler Road in Deridder, La., was not wearing his seatbelt, Magri said

As a result, the officer started following the vehicle and activated the emergency lights to attempt a traffic stop at Hunt Street, but Hight kept driving down Bruce Street. The officer then activated the siren but the vehicle continued, Magri said. The vehicle then turned into Martin Luther King Boulevard and stopped near Clover Circle, Magri said.

When the officer approached the vehicle, the officer smelled marijuana coming from Hight’s vehicle. When the officer asked for Hight’s license and insurance, Hight couldn’t provide either, Magri said. The officer asked Hight to exit the vehicle, and conducted a search of the vehicle. In the search, the officer found a clear plastic bag containing a white substance believed to be crystal methamphetamine at the center console of the car, Magri said. The officer also found another clear plastic bag containing a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana as well as a clear pipe, commonly used to inhale narcotics, Magri said.

Hight was taken into custody and transported to the CJC where he was booked and incarcerated for felony possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana in a motor vehicle, possession of paraphernalia, failure to yield to blue lights and sirens, no insurance, no driver’s license, careless driving and no seatbelt.

Hight is out on a $18,000 bond.