PEARL RIVER COUNTY, Miss. — A countywide narcotics roundup led by the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Office resulted in 26 arrests, with dozens of additional suspects still at large, authorities said. The operation, called Operation County Sweep, targeted narcotics-related warrants across the county, officials said.
Investigators with the sheriff’s office conducted the operation alongside the Picayune Police Department and its Special Operations Team, the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Mississippi Department of Corrections, Lenoir Rowell Criminal Justice Center Transport and Picayune Municipal Court, authorities said.
Authorities provided a list of people they said remain at large with active warrants, including Tina Walters (36) of Poplarville, charged with sale of a controlled substance; Harold “HL” Taylor (38) of Lumberton, charged with possession of a controlled substance; Dillon Warren (31) of Lumberton, charged with sale of a controlled substance; James Mayes (54) of Lumberton, charged with sale of a controlled substance; Willie Jefferson (39) of Carriere, charged with four counts of sale of a controlled substance; Douglas Dillard (49) of Pearl River, La., charged with three counts of sale of a controlled substance; Blake Bass (30) of Picayune, charged with four counts of sale of a controlled substance; and Candi Summers (45) and Steven Summers (26) of Carriere, each charged with possession of a controlled substance.
Also sought were Jalishia Hunderson of Carriere, charged with two counts of sale of a controlled substance; Matthew Blackburn (27) of Carriere, charged with sale of a controlled substance; Lainey Bethe (19) of Picayune, charged with possession of a controlled substance; Daramie Magee (29) of Picayune, charged with three counts of sale of a controlled substance; Senica Nixon (41) of Picayune, charged with three counts for trafficking a controlled substance and one count for sale of a controlled substance; Tarik Ragas (21), Madyson Mitchell (28), Martin Minks (40) and Nathan Nix (23) of Picayune, each charged with narcotics offenses. The Picayune Police Department Special Operations Team is also seeking Sylvester McDonald (49), James Lavigne (50), Brady Joseph Ervin (21), Tasha Lauren Stackpole (43) and Christian Daniel Lee (31), all of Picayune, on various conspiracy, weapons or sale charges.
Sheriff David Allison praised narcotics investigators and deputies and thanked state, federal and local partners for their assistance, saying, “This operation was only the beginning,” and that narcotics activity will not be tolerated in Pearl River County, authorities said. Mississippi Department of Public Safety Commissioner Sean Tindell said the operation demonstrates the strength of interagency partnerships, adding, “If you’re trafficking drugs in our state, know this: we are coming for you.” Anyone with information on the at-large individuals is asked to contact Central Dispatch at 601-749-5482.
This is a developing story and will be updated as more details emerge.
