Earlier this month, the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department arrested three suspects on drug charges during a traffic stop.
On Aug. 8, a narcotics detective attempted to conduct a traffic stop on a vehicle traveling east on Burgetown Road near Highway 11 for a switched license plate, Sheriff David Allison said.
The car accelerated and turned north on Highway 11, Allison said.
The detective observed a white female in the backseat looking back at him and placing items in her mouth, the Sheriff said. She was later identified by detectives as Kelly Silva, age unknown, of 19 Railroad St., Allison said.
The car then came to a stop on Highway 11 near Burge Street, Allison said. At that time, Silva exited the vehicle yelling and cursing at the officer, Allison said. She was placed under arrest for disorderly conduct, he said.
While speaking with the driver of the vehicle, later identified as Vincent Mangifano, age unknown of Highway 11, detectives observed numerous large knives protruding from the dashboard and console area of the vehicle and easily accessible by any of the occupants, Allison said.
The other occupant of the vehicle was identified by detectives as Robert Hellmers, age unknown of Barnes Road, the Sheriff said.
Through further investigation, detectives determined that Mangifano and Hellmers had previous felony convictions, Allison said.
During an inventory of the vehicle, detectives recovered a glass pipe, marijuana grinder and numerous large knives, four of which were illegal to possess by a convicted felon, Allison said.
Mangifano was charged with one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, one count of failure to yield to blue lights, one count of careless driving, one count of switched license plates, one count of suspended driver’s license and four counts of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
Hellmers was charged with one count possession of drug paraphernalia and four counts of possession of a weapon by a convicted felon.
Silva was charged with one count of disorderly conduct, one count of resisting arrest by fighting, one count of possession of drug paraphernalia and one count of tampering with physical evidence.