Deputies conducting routine patrols and checkpoints arrested several suspects for drug related offenses recently.
Pearl River County Sheriff David Allison said one of the cases took place on April 21 at 1:16 a.m., when a deputy patrolling Homer Ladner Road came across a Hyundai Santa Fe traveling at a high rate of speed.
As the deputy got closer to the suspect vehicle to conduct a stop, he saw the vehicle back into a driveway as the driver appeared to be concealing an item under the driver seat near the center console, Allison said.
The driver was later identified as 44-year-old Shane Seals of 53 American Sand Gravel Road, Poplarville. While speaking with Seals, the deputy noticed an open container in the vehicle containing liquor, prompting a search of the interior of the Hyundai. In that search, Allison said the deputy found two glass pipes commonly used in the consumption of narcotics in the door compartment and a plastic bag containing 24 grams of a substance suspected to be methamphetamine under the driver’s seat near the center console.
Seals was subsequently arrested for possession of a controlled substance and careless driving.
Two days later at 2:26 a.m. as deputies conducted a safety checkpoint along McNeill Steephollow Road, a black Chevrolet pulled up. Allison said the vehicle was occupied by the driver and two passengers. The passengers were identified as 28-year-old Ronnie Fleming, and 39-year-old Kira Viverito of 37 Forest Lane, Carriere.
While speaking with the occupants of the vehicle, the deputies determined the driver did not have a driver’s license, and Fleming had a warrant out for his arrest for simple assault and disorderly conduct, Allison said.
A search of the vehicle and its occupants determined Viverito had two bags containing a substance suspected to be marijuana in her possession and in the vehicle deputies found a plastic box with syringes and a spoon. Additional investigation determined the box belonged to Fleming.
Viverito was also found to be in possession of a black nylon bag that had two bags of a substance suspected to be crystal methamphetamine, a glass pipe, a roll of small baggies, three amphetamine pills and three clonazepam pills.
Fleming was arrested for the outstanding warrants, possession of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia, while Viverito was arrested for possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and a hold with the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
The driver was given a warning and allowed to go to his house, which was a short distance from the checkpoint, so long as he did not drive again until the issue with his license was resolved, Allison said.