Drug Arrests Made Following Community Complaints in Pearl River County

Published 11:17 pm Monday, May 27, 2024

Following community complaints and subsequent investigations, narcotics investigators with the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a residence located at 508 FZ Goss Rd., resulting in the arrests of three individuals.

During the search, investigators discovered Damien Barker, 50, Crystal Dudenhefer, 40, of New Orleans, and Conrad Calecas, 47, inside the residence. Investigators found drug paraphernalia within the home, leading to the immediate arrest of all three suspects.

Upon a search incident to arrest, Barker was found in possession of heroin and methamphetamine. Additionally, Barker had an active warrant for possession of a controlled substance. He was subsequently charged with possession of a controlled substance and taken into custody on the outstanding warrant.

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Dudenhefer was arrested for possession of paraphernalia. However, upon arrival at the Pearl River County Criminal Justice Facility, she was found to have heroin concealed on her person, leading to an additional charge of possession of a controlled substance.

Calecas was arrested due to an active bench warrant for controlled substance violations.

Sheriff David Allison expressed his gratitude to the community for their ongoing support and the valuable information provided, which led to these arrests.

On Wednesday, May 22, 2024, Pearl River County Patrol Deputies responded to a call for a wellness check at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) in Poplarville, at the intersection of Hwy 11 and Hwy 26. The call concerned an individual who appeared to be passed out behind the wheel of a vehicle.

Upon arrival, deputies contacted Michael Mitchell, 53, of New Augusta, Miss. During the interaction, Mitchell was found in possession of methamphetamine and synthetic urine. He was arrested and transported to the Pearl River County Criminal Justice Facility, where he was booked on charges of possession of methamphetamine and possession of synthetic urine.

These incidents highlight the ongoing efforts of the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office to address drug-related issues within the community and ensure public safety.