The Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department recently took two suspects into custody for drug related charges.
Deputies on patrol along Highway 13 near Lumberton received information that 37-year-old Kenneth Ladner of 137 Lloyd Ladner Road in Lumberton was traveling along the same highway, said Sheriff David Allison.
Ladner was said to be in a purple Dodge Neon at the time and agencies from multiple jurisdictions had been looking for him for weapon and drug violations out of Lamar County and a parole violation with the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Allison said Ladner has known for months that he is wanted, and has fled from capture either on foot or in a vehicle when law enforcement agencies attempted to take him into custody.
However, on July 13, the deputies on patrol were able to locate and conduct a stop on Ladner’s vehicle by blocking it in with their patrol vehicles.
Once blocked in, Ladner fled on foot near Hickory Grove Road, while the female driver remained in the vehicle, Allison said. A short foot pursuit resulted in Ladner’s capture without further incident.
Allison said deputies searched Lander and found a bayonet and a substance believed to be methamphetamine on his person, resulting in him being charged with felony possession of a controlled substance, possession of a weapon by a convicted felon and for the felony possession of a controlled substance warrant.
The next day narcotics investigators parked near the railroad tracks in Nicholson observed an unknown female walk up to their vehicle and knock on the window. Allison said that as she walked to the vehicle, they noticed she was staggering. The investigators cracked the window to see what she wanted, discovering she was looking for a ride to the store. After they politely declined to take her to the store, she continued to ask for a ride.
During the interaction she was swaying back in forth. Allison said the investigators then asked for her identification while they exited the vehicle.
The woman, later identified as 49-year-old April V. Young of 404 Dobson Road in Purvis, appeared to be falling asleep while speaking with the investigators, Allison said.
She was taken into custody for public drunk, and further investigation found she was in possession of 31 amphetamine and eight clonazepam pills along with some marijuana, leading her to be additionally charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and possession of marijuana, Allison said.