Deputies with the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department worked two cases recently; one involved a suspect allegedly making threats against several local judges, while the second involved a DUI suspect fleeing at a high rate of speed.
Chief Deputy Shane Tucker said his department became involved with the first case on April 22, when FBI agents called to say they had information that 58-year-old Jackie Bush of 1600 Goodyear Boulevard had called their Washington DC office three days prior to make threats that he would kill three local judges, one is a retired circuit court judge, the other two are active justice court judges.
During the phone call, Bush allegedly asked the FBI to kill the judges, and if they didn’t he said he would “blow them all away,” Tucker said.
A copy of the recorded phone call was provided to the sheriff’s department, which after being reviewed by their investigators an affidavit was signed against Bush.
Tucker said Bush was arrested on May 2 on the charge of intimidating a judge. He is out on a $5,000 bond. If convicted, he could face up to two years in jail, Tucker said.
So far it appears Bush’s motive for the threat was due to the outcome of a civil case he was involved in.
In a separate case that occurred on May 2, a deputy on patrol attempted to conduct a stop on a vehicle at Hayden Oaks Road and Richardson Ozona Road. Tucker said that when the vehicle stopped, the driver, identified as 31-year-old Justin Stanley Pearson of 108 Fred Strain Road, halfway stepped out of the vehicle and shouted that it was overheating before fleeing in it.
A pursuit ensued down Richardson Ozona Road, turning onto Fred Strain Road and then turning onto a dead end trail, where the vehicle came to a stop, Tucker said.
Pearson was taken into custody, after which time a shotgun was recovered and kept for safe keeping. A search of the vehicle found multiple beer cans inside, along with a syringe containing a clear liquid believed to be methamphetamine. The substance was sent to the crime lab for analysis, Tucker said. Blood was drawn for testing and Pearson was charged with felony DUI third, resisting arrest by fleeing, disorderly conduct failure to comply, careless driving, reckless driving, four counts of improper turn, possession of beer in a dry county, driving while license suspended, no insurance, possession of paraphernalia, failure to yield to blue lights and eight warrants.
Additional charges could be pressed depending on the result of the crime lab analysis of the clear substance.