A long-term investigation into suspected drug activity in Pearl River County has led to the arrest of two suspects in two unrelated cases.
Pearl River County Sheriff David Allison said narcotics detectives with his department have been building cases against people they suspect may be involved in illegal narcotics dealings.
One of those cases involved the arrest of 32-year-old Elizabeth Seals of 108 Camellia Dr., Poplarville. Allison said detectives conducted an investigation into her actions over the past several months, establishing enough evidence to secure warrants for her arrest on the charges of conspiracy to sell a controlled substance and sale of a controlled substance.
On May 26, detectives on patrol noticed her driving along a county road and conducted a stop, taking her into custody on those warrants, Allison said. During the stop, it was noted that the vehicle she was driving had a switched tag and her driver’s license was suspended, leading to the additional charges of driving while license suspended and switched tag. Allison said the Mississippi Department of Corrections placed a hold on her due to the fact she was out on probation for a previous drug related conviction. If convicted of these new charges, she could face up to 24 years in jail, Allison said.
Another of the department’s long term investigations into alleged drug activity in the county led to the arrest of 44-year-old Patricia Leigh Smith of 22 Guy Penton Road, Carriere, the sheriff said.
Allison said when detectives met her at a location in the county in order to allegedly to purchase narcotics, they noticed she had a child in the vehicle.
A warrant was secured for her arrest on the charges of three counts of conspiracy to sell a controlled substance, sale of a controlled substance and child endangerment, Allison said .
That warrant was served at her home on May 30. During her arrest it was learned that she too was out on probation for previous drug related conviction, leading the Mississippi Department of Corrections to place a hold on her, Allison said.
If convicted she could face up to 94 years in prison, the sheriff said.