Two suspects were taken into custody by the Picayune Police Department for drug related charges after one of them brought police officers on a high-speed chase.

The arrests occurred on Sept. 20, after narcotics detectives with the department performed an undercover operation at a local business just after 8 p.m. During that operation, an undercover officer spoke with Tony Douglas, 39, of 23080 Oak Ridge Lane, in an attempt to purchase some methamphetamine, according to a departmental release. Once the undercover officer gave Douglas the money, the officer was informed that a second person, 37-year-old Jessie Ray Burnett of 930 Clover Circle, would be bringing the controlled substance to that location, the release states. While the undercover officer waited for Burnett to arrive, a perimeter was established at the scene by other officers.

At about that time, Burnett arrived in a separate vehicle, provided the alleged narcotics to Douglas, who in turn gave the controlled substance to the undercover officer, the release states. Detectives then moved in and took Bennett into custody, determining he possessed a bottle containing a substance suspected to be methamphetamine, codeine pills and several empty syringes, the release states.

Burnett fled the scene at a high rate of speed at that time in an attempt to elude capture, the release states.

The pursuit took place from Frontage Road, onto Highway 43 South toward Hancock County. Deputies with the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department were advised of the situation, who assisted by deploying spike strips at the intersection of Highway 43 and Highway 603. However, Burnett left the road in order to evade the spike strips before turning onto Highway 603. The pursuit continued with the assistance of the Hancock County Sheriff’s Department until Burnett lost control of the vehicle near the intersection of Kiln Deslile Road, where the vehicle rolled and came to a rest. After staff at the Hancock County Medical Center determined he was in good health, Burnett was transported to the Picayune Criminal Justice Center and searched. During that search officers found a plastic bag containing methamphetamine in his possession. He was arrested for sale of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school or church, introducing contraband into a correctional facility, conspiracy to sell a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school or church, felony failure to yield when officer signals, felony possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest by fleeing. Burnett was also arrested for two felony warrants with the Picayune Police Department for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute within 1,500 feet of a school or church and tampering with physical evidence in relation to a previous case, the release states.

Bennett was arrested for the offenses of sale of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school or church, two counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute within 1,500 feet of a school or church and conspiracy to sell a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school or church.