Deputies and investigators with the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department recently arrested several suspects for drug-related offenses.
While on patrol in the Poplarville area on July 29, deputy Andrew Ogden observed a vehicle being driven carelessly. While following the vehicle, he saw it cross into oncoming traffic while heading west on West North Street and again on White Sand Road, prompting the deputy to conduct a stop, said Sheriff David Allison.
Allison said that while Ogden was speaking to the occupants of the vehicle, he could smell marijuana coming from inside. The two women inside the vehicle were asked to exit and a female deputy was called to the scene to assist.
A search of the vehicle found no narcotics inside, but a search of the two by the female deputy found a baggy of marijuana and a pill bottle containing three baggies with a rock like substance on the passenger, identified as 37-year-old Shanna Sones of 66 Birch Boulevard, Poplarville. The rock like substance was suspected to be methamphetamine, leading to Sones’ arrest for the offenses of simple possession of marijuana and felony possession of a controlled substance, Allison said. Interviews with the diver and passenger determined the driver was giving Sones a ride and was unaware of the substances Sones possessed, so the driver was released, Allison said.
A separate case worked on July 31, began as community complaints alleging suspected drug activity at 715 South Valley Road, Poplarville. Allison said that when narcotics investigators and officers with the Mississippi Department of Corrections arrived at the home, they spoke with the homeowner and several people inside.
While securing the home, the officers found 42-year-old Jason Pearson, of that address, and 25-year-old Patricia Dunfee of 9 North Fork Drive, Carriere in a bedroom together, Allison said.
In separate bedrooms of the home, the law enforcement officers found 51-year-old Durwood Duncan and the homeowner. Once all of the occupants were secured a search of the home found digital scales, baggies, a cutting agent, methamphetamine and heroin in the bedroom occupied by Pearson and Dunfee. It was later determined that Pearson, and Duncan were on probation from the MDOC and Dunfee was on probation with the Louisiana Department of Corrections. Allison said that the three being in the same home was a violation of their probation, Allison said.
Pearson and Dunfee were arrested for two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and probation violation. Duncan was taken into custody for his probation violation, Allison said.
While the homeowner was not arrested, Allison said she is under investigation and may face charges at a later date.
Another case worked on July 31, began in the early morning hours when Patrol Sgt. Shane Eggar saw a vehicle driven by a woman not wearing her seat belt traveling on Highway 53. When Eggar attempted to conduct a stop, the vehicle’s speed increased and then turned onto Progress Road. The driver of the vehicle refused to stop after Eggar turned on his lights and sirens, traveling down Progress Road at speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour in a 35 mile per hour zone, Allison said.
In the 500 block of that road, the driver lost control and the vehicle ended up in a ditch. Allison said the driver, later identified as 36-year-old Ashley C. Hutchinson of 32052 Road 316, Poplarville, was found to be in possession of multiple items of contraband including digital scales, a syringe, a burnt spoon and a glass pipe suspected to be used to inhale crack cocaine, along with four bags of methamphetamine, two bags of cocaine and one bag of heroin.
She was arrested on the offenses of reckless driving, failure to yield to blue lights and siren, no insurance, possession of paraphernalia, and three counts of felony possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute.