A cooperative effort on the part of the Farmington Police Department and the Alcorn County Narcotics Unit led to the arrest of a Corinth man on felony drug charges Friday night.
Law enforcement officials arrested Marcus Antonio McGaha, 20, of 202 Wick Street, in Corinth, and charged him with felony possesion of a controlled substance with intent to sell after McGaha, along with three other individuals, were stopped on Farmington Road and County Road 217 by Farmington Police Officer Keith Little, according to a report from the Alcorn County Sheriff’s Office. The stop was intiated around 8:30-9:00 p.m. Friday night because of a traffic violation.
After the traffic stop was made, McGaha reportedly dropped a clear bag containing cocaine on the ground by the passenger door when he exited the vehicle. At that time, Deputy Danny Holloway and Officer Little ordered the four individuals to get down on the ground, and they were all handcuffed.
Alcorn County Narcotics Investigator Darrell Hopkins and the other officers spoke to all of the car’s occupants before releasing them and arresting McGaha.
McGaha was transported and charged. Bond has not been set and a hold has been placed on the subject by the Mississippi Department of Corrections due to him being on probation.
Alcorn County Sheriff Charles Rinhart said he appreciates the working relationship between the Farmington Police Department and Alcorn County Sheriff’s Office and he wanted to thank Farmington Police Chief Tony Holmes and his officers.
Monday, June 29, 2009
Thursday, June 25, 2009
Corinth man arrested one week after release from prison
A Corinth man was arrested Monday on felony drug charges just one week after being released from prison.
The Alcorn County Narcotics Unit arrested Benny Ray Ross, 34, of 18 CR 378, Corinth, Monday, and charged him with felony possession of a controlled substance, according to a report from the Alcorn County Sheriff’s Office.
Events leading up to the arrest reportedly began when officers with the Alcorn County Narcotics Unit received information that Ross was purchasing pills to manufacture methamphetamine.
Law enforcement followed Ross around to stores and observed him purchasing pills and later followed him out of town on South Harper Roads, just in the county, and pulled him over.
Narcotics Investigator Darrell Hopkins spoke to Ross and reportedly explained why Ross had been stopped. Ross was soon searched by Hopkins and a clear bag containing methamphetamine was found in Ross’s pocket.
Ross was arrested and charged. He is currently being held at Alcorn County Jail, with a hold for the Mississippi Department of Corrections placed on him, due to the fact that he had just gotten out of prison a week prior. He had reportedly been in prison on drug charges.
Hopkins said Justice Court Judge Steve Little is looking into Ross’s bond, due to a charge of possession of two or more precursors with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, several months previously.
The Alcorn County Narcotics Unit arrested Benny Ray Ross, 34, of 18 CR 378, Corinth, Monday, and charged him with felony possession of a controlled substance, according to a report from the Alcorn County Sheriff’s Office.
Events leading up to the arrest reportedly began when officers with the Alcorn County Narcotics Unit received information that Ross was purchasing pills to manufacture methamphetamine.
Law enforcement followed Ross around to stores and observed him purchasing pills and later followed him out of town on South Harper Roads, just in the county, and pulled him over.
Narcotics Investigator Darrell Hopkins spoke to Ross and reportedly explained why Ross had been stopped. Ross was soon searched by Hopkins and a clear bag containing methamphetamine was found in Ross’s pocket.
Ross was arrested and charged. He is currently being held at Alcorn County Jail, with a hold for the Mississippi Department of Corrections placed on him, due to the fact that he had just gotten out of prison a week prior. He had reportedly been in prison on drug charges.
Hopkins said Justice Court Judge Steve Little is looking into Ross’s bond, due to a charge of possession of two or more precursors with intent to manufacture methamphetamine, several months previously.
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Seven arrested in meth conspiracies
Seven suspects have been arrested after Alcorn County authorities broke up two separate groups accused of conspiring to manufacture methamphetamine.
Darrell Hopkins with the Alcorn County Sheriff's Department Narcotics Unit said he and fellow officer Danny Holloway observed a white Ford Ranger stopping at several stores and its occupants allegedly entering and purchasing pseudoephedrine pills on Friday. The pills are used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine.
They called for backup and deputies Mackie Sexton and Terry Rider stopped the truck on U.S. Highway 72 near Strickland after also observing it driving erratically.
Hopkins said the driver of the vehicle, Arthur Ray Reeves, 46, of 365 Ackies Lane, Clifton, Tenn., appeared to be under the influence of methamphetamine and told officers he had been using the drug.
A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of methamphetamine residue, needles used to inject the drug, boxes of pseudoephedrine pills and other items.
Reeves and three other occupants of the vehicle, Brittney Rene Price, 18, of 530 Hickory Street, Savannah, Tenn., Sonia Gail Arnold, 38, of 530 Hickory Street, Savannah and Tracy Lane Franks, 39, of 895 Maddox Loop, Savannah, were all charged with conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance. Bond was set for each at $10,000.
In a separate, unrelated case, officers with the unit received a tip last Wednesday that a white Pontiac with a Tennessee license plate was going to several businesses and the occupants were purchasing items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Hopkins said officers with the narcotics unit spotted the vehicle and made a traffic stop. After receiving consent from the driver to search the vehicle, several items used to make the drug were allegedly discovered. Following further interviews and investigation, the occupants of the car were arrested. The driver, David Morgan, 36, of 2458 Joe Dillon Road in Michie, Tenn., and passengers Angela Morgan, 29, of the same address and Daryl Hopper, 23, of 645 Carol Road of Michie were each charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. Bond was set at $10,000 each.
In another separate, unrelated case, an inmate in the Alcorn County Jail and his alleged accomplice have been charged with bringing marijuana into the jail.
Hopkins said the narcotics unit received a tip that someone was going to attempt to bring the drug into the jail. Officers Hopkins, Holloway and Steve Odle conducted surveillance outside the building Friday night and witnessed a suspect later identified as Alisha Hope Grimes, 28, of 104 Noel Street, Corinth, pull up to the south side of the building a throw a small bag of marijuana over the fence.
They later observed an inmate trusty, Wilbur Lee Jackson, 43, 805 Crater Street, Holly Springs, retrieve the bag. Both were charged with transferring a controlled substance into the jail. Bond was set for each at $5,000.
Darrell Hopkins with the Alcorn County Sheriff's Department Narcotics Unit said he and fellow officer Danny Holloway observed a white Ford Ranger stopping at several stores and its occupants allegedly entering and purchasing pseudoephedrine pills on Friday. The pills are used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine.
They called for backup and deputies Mackie Sexton and Terry Rider stopped the truck on U.S. Highway 72 near Strickland after also observing it driving erratically.
Hopkins said the driver of the vehicle, Arthur Ray Reeves, 46, of 365 Ackies Lane, Clifton, Tenn., appeared to be under the influence of methamphetamine and told officers he had been using the drug.
A search of the vehicle led to the discovery of methamphetamine residue, needles used to inject the drug, boxes of pseudoephedrine pills and other items.
Reeves and three other occupants of the vehicle, Brittney Rene Price, 18, of 530 Hickory Street, Savannah, Tenn., Sonia Gail Arnold, 38, of 530 Hickory Street, Savannah and Tracy Lane Franks, 39, of 895 Maddox Loop, Savannah, were all charged with conspiracy to manufacture a controlled substance. Bond was set for each at $10,000.
In a separate, unrelated case, officers with the unit received a tip last Wednesday that a white Pontiac with a Tennessee license plate was going to several businesses and the occupants were purchasing items used in the manufacture of methamphetamine.
Hopkins said officers with the narcotics unit spotted the vehicle and made a traffic stop. After receiving consent from the driver to search the vehicle, several items used to make the drug were allegedly discovered. Following further interviews and investigation, the occupants of the car were arrested. The driver, David Morgan, 36, of 2458 Joe Dillon Road in Michie, Tenn., and passengers Angela Morgan, 29, of the same address and Daryl Hopper, 23, of 645 Carol Road of Michie were each charged with conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. Bond was set at $10,000 each.
In another separate, unrelated case, an inmate in the Alcorn County Jail and his alleged accomplice have been charged with bringing marijuana into the jail.
Hopkins said the narcotics unit received a tip that someone was going to attempt to bring the drug into the jail. Officers Hopkins, Holloway and Steve Odle conducted surveillance outside the building Friday night and witnessed a suspect later identified as Alisha Hope Grimes, 28, of 104 Noel Street, Corinth, pull up to the south side of the building a throw a small bag of marijuana over the fence.
They later observed an inmate trusty, Wilbur Lee Jackson, 43, 805 Crater Street, Holly Springs, retrieve the bag. Both were charged with transferring a controlled substance into the jail. Bond was set for each at $5,000.
Friday, June 19, 2009
Deputies study up on hazardous materials
Three officials with the Alcorn County Sheriff's Office now have more expertise in dealing with the hazardous materials involved with handling a meth lab.
Alcorn County Narcotics Investigator Reggie Anderson, along with Deputy Lucas Wooten and Deputy Smith, completed a 52-hour week of training at the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy in Meridian - the second of a two-week training course. The first week was a 40-hour week held last December and included education about methamphetamine and Clandestine Lab Investigations..
The second week of class, which the officers just completed last Friday, June 12, included Clandestine Lab, Weapons of Mass Destruction and Site Safety Certification. As part of the training, the officers received levels A, B, C and D certification on Hazardous Materials - conducted by U.S. Environmental Services.
Investigator Anderson said other topics covered in the class included Confined Space Training, extensive evidence handling and sampling and Drug Endangered Children Specialized Training. He noted that he, and the other two officers, also received a full briefing on the United States Clandestine Lab problem by the National Director of National Methamphetamine and Pharmaceuticals Initiative.
Alcorn County Sheriff Charles Rinehart expressed his support of the class and explained why he especially wanted his officers to take the class at RCTA in Meridian.
"I wanted the best training for the deputies and that is why I chose the class at RCTA, because it is the only one that will certify at level A. Most classes just certify at level B, C and D," said Rinehart.
Anderson had specific reasons of his own for what he took away from the class and what he found most useful.
"I think the training will help a great deal when dealing with meth labs in Alcorn County. Also, the training received on the Drug Endangered Children was great because the kids are where our future lies. We, as law enforcement, are seeing more and more children at the meth labs that we are faced with right here at home, and if we can make better living conditions for kids, then we can go home and say it was Oa job well done,'" said Anderson.
Wooten and Smith also felt the training strongly enhanced their own ability to do their jobs.
"The site safety training was good because we now know safer ways to deal with meth labs," said Wooten.
Smith said: "The evidence handling training was very interesting due to the equipment that the school provided."
The training consisted of five days, with four days in full protective suits level A, B and C and one full day of a scenario of major meth lab operation and weapons of mass destruction. Anderson noted that each student received some equipment - APR Respirators, combination cartridges, over boots and hand and body protection.
With three officers certified to disassemble a meth lab, Anderson pointed out that it will save some time. However, Anderson noted that in the past the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics had been extremely supportive to help them, a fact for which he said he is very grateful. He said the Alcorn County Sheriff's Office will continue to request their assistance and support.
In the interest of public education, Rinehart said the Alcorn County Sheriff's Office would be able to provide a methamphetamine awareness presentation to any church group or social organization that might be interested. Those would like to schedule a presentation, may call Investigator Reggie Anderson at (662) 286-5521.
Alcorn County Narcotics Investigator Reggie Anderson, along with Deputy Lucas Wooten and Deputy Smith, completed a 52-hour week of training at the Regional Counterdrug Training Academy in Meridian - the second of a two-week training course. The first week was a 40-hour week held last December and included education about methamphetamine and Clandestine Lab Investigations..
The second week of class, which the officers just completed last Friday, June 12, included Clandestine Lab, Weapons of Mass Destruction and Site Safety Certification. As part of the training, the officers received levels A, B, C and D certification on Hazardous Materials - conducted by U.S. Environmental Services.
Investigator Anderson said other topics covered in the class included Confined Space Training, extensive evidence handling and sampling and Drug Endangered Children Specialized Training. He noted that he, and the other two officers, also received a full briefing on the United States Clandestine Lab problem by the National Director of National Methamphetamine and Pharmaceuticals Initiative.
Alcorn County Sheriff Charles Rinehart expressed his support of the class and explained why he especially wanted his officers to take the class at RCTA in Meridian.
"I wanted the best training for the deputies and that is why I chose the class at RCTA, because it is the only one that will certify at level A. Most classes just certify at level B, C and D," said Rinehart.
Anderson had specific reasons of his own for what he took away from the class and what he found most useful.
"I think the training will help a great deal when dealing with meth labs in Alcorn County. Also, the training received on the Drug Endangered Children was great because the kids are where our future lies. We, as law enforcement, are seeing more and more children at the meth labs that we are faced with right here at home, and if we can make better living conditions for kids, then we can go home and say it was Oa job well done,'" said Anderson.
Wooten and Smith also felt the training strongly enhanced their own ability to do their jobs.
"The site safety training was good because we now know safer ways to deal with meth labs," said Wooten.
Smith said: "The evidence handling training was very interesting due to the equipment that the school provided."
The training consisted of five days, with four days in full protective suits level A, B and C and one full day of a scenario of major meth lab operation and weapons of mass destruction. Anderson noted that each student received some equipment - APR Respirators, combination cartridges, over boots and hand and body protection.
With three officers certified to disassemble a meth lab, Anderson pointed out that it will save some time. However, Anderson noted that in the past the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics had been extremely supportive to help them, a fact for which he said he is very grateful. He said the Alcorn County Sheriff's Office will continue to request their assistance and support.
In the interest of public education, Rinehart said the Alcorn County Sheriff's Office would be able to provide a methamphetamine awareness presentation to any church group or social organization that might be interested. Those would like to schedule a presentation, may call Investigator Reggie Anderson at (662) 286-5521.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Lottery scam perpetuated by local involvement
After receiving scam complaints nearly every day, an Alcorn County Investigator recently noted that scams will not stop unless people stop responding to scammers.
A recent statement from Alcorn County Investigator Jerry Rogers reported that the Alcorn County Sheriff's Office receives calls nearly every day from people who have had dealings with scammers. One of the more prevalent scams right now is the lottery scam, he said.
Around the end of last month, an official news release from Commissioner Brandon Presley, of the Mississippi Public Service Commission, explained that the lottery scam begins with a phone call to convince individuals they have won a large amount of money. Soon, the excited citizen learns the detail that could lead to their ruin - that they need to send a certain dollar amount for "insurance and processing fees" in order to collect the winnings.
Rogers stressed that nothing is free and people need to be aware of what is going on.
"Definitely do not cash any checks you get in the mail. Do some investigation ... take the check to your local bank and see if it's legitimate," said Rogers. "These people appear to be really going more for senior citizens who are have only Social Security or retirement that they are living on."
Presley's report confirmed this fact. He said that people are getting into personal conversations with the scammers, who appear very friendly, and he heavily stressed that citizens should not send these companies any money or give them any personal information.
Most of the funds that are sent out because of these scams go out of the country - much has been traced to Jamaica, where the money backs Jamaican gangs, Rogers noted. This was confirmed by Presley's report as well as by an Associated Press story by Mike Melia, which stated that Americans sent more than $30 million last year to claim winnings in a Jamaican lottery.
"The trouble is," Melia wrote, "there is no such contest."
Many citizens who fall for the scams, lose thousands of dollars, savings and more, and then fall victim to even more because they think they can make the money back. An example of this is the fact that one local woman, whom Rogers did not name, had lost all she had to scammers. So much money, that when scammers contacted her again, she informed them she had no more money and they began to send her packages of cash to send to other addresses throughout the country.
"Most of the addresses she sent the money to were bogus," said Rogers. "Yet, someone still managed to get the money." Rogers went on to say that FedEx has an investigator looking into who is intercepting the money as it appears to never reach the false address.
Locally, the lottery scam is not the only scam used to try to trick people out of their money. Last winter, The Daily Corinthian reported two separate cases of people who were using classified ad to sell puppies and they were contacted by scammers. In both cases - one being a Rienzi man and the other being a woman who is a Hurricane Creek area resident - both people were able to catch on to the scam before they lost any money and both reported the incidents to the authorities.
Rogers said that, in the end, raising awareness could very well be the only answer to beating the scammers. He urged people to spread the word about the problem in an effort to thwart any more people being taken in.
"This is huge and most of it is outside our jurisdiction," said Rogers. "The only way to stop it is for people to quit falling for it."
A recent statement from Alcorn County Investigator Jerry Rogers reported that the Alcorn County Sheriff's Office receives calls nearly every day from people who have had dealings with scammers. One of the more prevalent scams right now is the lottery scam, he said.
Around the end of last month, an official news release from Commissioner Brandon Presley, of the Mississippi Public Service Commission, explained that the lottery scam begins with a phone call to convince individuals they have won a large amount of money. Soon, the excited citizen learns the detail that could lead to their ruin - that they need to send a certain dollar amount for "insurance and processing fees" in order to collect the winnings.
Rogers stressed that nothing is free and people need to be aware of what is going on.
"Definitely do not cash any checks you get in the mail. Do some investigation ... take the check to your local bank and see if it's legitimate," said Rogers. "These people appear to be really going more for senior citizens who are have only Social Security or retirement that they are living on."
Presley's report confirmed this fact. He said that people are getting into personal conversations with the scammers, who appear very friendly, and he heavily stressed that citizens should not send these companies any money or give them any personal information.
Most of the funds that are sent out because of these scams go out of the country - much has been traced to Jamaica, where the money backs Jamaican gangs, Rogers noted. This was confirmed by Presley's report as well as by an Associated Press story by Mike Melia, which stated that Americans sent more than $30 million last year to claim winnings in a Jamaican lottery.
"The trouble is," Melia wrote, "there is no such contest."
Many citizens who fall for the scams, lose thousands of dollars, savings and more, and then fall victim to even more because they think they can make the money back. An example of this is the fact that one local woman, whom Rogers did not name, had lost all she had to scammers. So much money, that when scammers contacted her again, she informed them she had no more money and they began to send her packages of cash to send to other addresses throughout the country.
"Most of the addresses she sent the money to were bogus," said Rogers. "Yet, someone still managed to get the money." Rogers went on to say that FedEx has an investigator looking into who is intercepting the money as it appears to never reach the false address.
Locally, the lottery scam is not the only scam used to try to trick people out of their money. Last winter, The Daily Corinthian reported two separate cases of people who were using classified ad to sell puppies and they were contacted by scammers. In both cases - one being a Rienzi man and the other being a woman who is a Hurricane Creek area resident - both people were able to catch on to the scam before they lost any money and both reported the incidents to the authorities.
Rogers said that, in the end, raising awareness could very well be the only answer to beating the scammers. He urged people to spread the word about the problem in an effort to thwart any more people being taken in.
"This is huge and most of it is outside our jurisdiction," said Rogers. "The only way to stop it is for people to quit falling for it."
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
Rienzi man arrested for burglary
A Rienzi man has been arrested on burglary charges after an Alcorn County Sheriff's Office investigation led law enforcement to his door.
Law enforcement officials arrested John Perry, 37, of 49 South Front Street, in Rienzi, and charged him with burglary of a dwelling in connection with a burglary that took place at 43 Main Street, in Rienzi, last week, according to a report for the Alcorn County Sheriff's Office.
Events leading to the investigation, and subsequent arrest, began when the owner of the Main Street home called after reportedly leaving the residence around noon that day and returning home around 5 p.m. to find that "someone had kicked the front door in." Cash and some prescription pills were the only items taken, according to the report.
Alcorn County Investigator Jerry Rogers said the process of the investigation led to Perry as a suspect and the arrest was made after law enforcement found evidence from the burglarized home at Perry's residence.
Perry was arrested has been released on bond.
In another, unrelated case, Alcorn County Sheriff Deputies arrested Phillip Hoyle, 26, of 924 Main Street, in Corinth, and charged him with attempted robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to a report from the Alcorn County Sheriff's Office.
The incident that led to the arrested reportedly began after Jean Haynie, of Alcorn County, had purchased some appliances. Hoyle reportedly had come to her home to work on the appliances and a verbal altercation occurred between Hoyle and Haynie at some point.
The report said Hoyle left, went out to his truck and came back with a handgun which he allegedly stuck in Haynie's side and ordered her to him all the money she had in her purse. There were two other individuals at Haynie's home and when they approached Hoyle and Haynie, Hoyle reportedly said he was kidding and left the scene.
Hoyle is currently being held on a $10,000 bond with an extra hold from the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Law enforcement officials arrested John Perry, 37, of 49 South Front Street, in Rienzi, and charged him with burglary of a dwelling in connection with a burglary that took place at 43 Main Street, in Rienzi, last week, according to a report for the Alcorn County Sheriff's Office.
Events leading to the investigation, and subsequent arrest, began when the owner of the Main Street home called after reportedly leaving the residence around noon that day and returning home around 5 p.m. to find that "someone had kicked the front door in." Cash and some prescription pills were the only items taken, according to the report.
Alcorn County Investigator Jerry Rogers said the process of the investigation led to Perry as a suspect and the arrest was made after law enforcement found evidence from the burglarized home at Perry's residence.
Perry was arrested has been released on bond.
In another, unrelated case, Alcorn County Sheriff Deputies arrested Phillip Hoyle, 26, of 924 Main Street, in Corinth, and charged him with attempted robbery and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, according to a report from the Alcorn County Sheriff's Office.
The incident that led to the arrested reportedly began after Jean Haynie, of Alcorn County, had purchased some appliances. Hoyle reportedly had come to her home to work on the appliances and a verbal altercation occurred between Hoyle and Haynie at some point.
The report said Hoyle left, went out to his truck and came back with a handgun which he allegedly stuck in Haynie's side and ordered her to him all the money she had in her purse. There were two other individuals at Haynie's home and when they approached Hoyle and Haynie, Hoyle reportedly said he was kidding and left the scene.
Hoyle is currently being held on a $10,000 bond with an extra hold from the Mississippi Department of Corrections.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)