A Pearl River County man was arrested in Forrest County after allegedly defacing cemetery property.
The suspect, later identified as 38-year-old Phillip Wood of Hickory Grove Road, allegedly entered Entriken Cemetery in Forrest County last week and removed a fence located on the outskirts of the property, Forrest County Sheriff’s Department Capt. Nick Calico said.
Through the subsequent investigation, deputies were able to identify Wood as the suspect, he said.
With the help of Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department, Wood was arrested Tuesday at his Pearl River County home by the Forrest County Sheriff’s Department, Calico said.
During his arrest, deputies located two tombstones in his yard. Through further investigation, it was learned the tombstones were stolen from Covington and Smith counties, Calico said.
Calico said Wood is not cooperating with police so it’s not clear why he removed the fence or tombstones.
Wood is being held at the Forrest County jail for the offense of cemetery desecration as well as two outstanding warrants held by Forrest County Sheriff’s Department for simple assault from 2015, Calico said.
Further charges could be pressed for the stolen headstones, he said.