The Yalobusha County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the three incidents involving the theft of rims and tires. Sheriff Jerimaine Gooch reported thieves have targeted vehicles in Yalobusha and surrounding counties.
WATER VALLEY – Yalobusha County Sheriff Jerimaine Gooch reported two additional suspects have been arrested in connection with an investigation dating back to February involving the theft of copper wire in the county.
Nason Johnson was arrested for grand larceny after allegedly stealing phone cable. Johnson was nabbed in Grenada. Jonathan Sumner was also arrested for grand larceny. Sumner was charged for his alleged involvement in stealing copper wire from a farmer’s irrigation pivot located near Coffeeville Gooch reported damage to the irrigation equipment exceeded $60,000.
Last month the Herald reported three arrests as the sheriff reported a ring of thieves were operating in Yalobusha County and surrounding counties as hundreds of feet of phone cable were cut from utility poles. Gooch said the damage cost AT&T tens of thousands of dollars to replace the lines. The sheriff explained that the phone cables contain dozens of small, plastic-coated copper lines. The thieves burn the plastic coating off the lines and sell the copper for scrap value.
The sheriff said deputies continue to follow leads and track down suspects, but finding some of the suspected people of interest in the theft ring has been difficult.
“We believe some of the suspects may have left the state. We are also still receiving reports of phone lines that have been cut in the county, but it has slowed down,” Gooch said.
In another ongoing investigation involving multiple counties, Gooch reported deputies are investigating the theft of tires and rims stolen from parked vehicles. The most recent theft was reported on May 2 after all four tires and rims from a Toyota Camry were stolen on Walnut Street in Oakland. Two similar thefts were reported in the county, one on Hwy. 51 in Oakland and the other on County Road 436 north of Coffeeville.
“Tallahatchie has also been hit, along with Grenada, Calhoun. We believe the crimes are connected,” Gooch said. “Most of the targeted vehicles are Toyota Camrys.”
Chief Deputy Thomas West noted that the thieves are bold, explaining they strike at night and often in populated areas.
“Most of these vehicle were parked at residences that have neighbors nearby. We urge anyone who sees suspicious activity in the county to report it. If you see something, say something,” West added.
Other activity reported by the sheriff includes:
• Andrew Jackson was arrested and charged with commercial burglary after allegedly breaking into a control room in a bathhouse at Bryant Boat Landing.
“We arrested Jackson last year for breaking into the same bathhouse,” the sheriff reported. “Last time he got away with a surveillance camera and wiring.”
In the recent break-in, Gooch said camera footage from the U.S. Corps of Engineers camera showed Jackson forcing entry into the bathhouse.
“He must have thought the camera had not been replaced, but we were able to arrest him shortly after receiving a call from the U.S. Corps of Engineers,” Gooch said.
• Anthony Robinson was arrested on May 18 for an outstanding warrant for domestic violence. Robinson was arrested on Hwy. 32.
• Emily Graves was arrested for DUI – first offense on May 18. Graves was arrested on Hwy. 32.
• Jeremy Lumas of Tillatoba was arrested on May 17 for felony fleeing and possession of ecstasy. Lumas fled from a driver’s license checkpoint in Tillatoba and led deputies on a chase before he was apprehended.
• Heather Cross was arrested on May 17 for a circuit court bench warrant.
• Justin Steen was arrested on May 6 for aggravated domestic violence. Steen was apprehended at a residence on Hwy. 330 east of Coffeeville after a domestic dispute with family members. Gooch said deputies had previously responded to calls at the same location involving Steen.
• Kayla McCammon was arrested on May 3 on a warrant for credit card defraud. McCammon was apprehended in Calhoun County.
• Justin Green was arrested on May 1 for disturbance of a family. Green was apprehended on County Road 25.
• Jacob McKee was arrested on April 28 for simple domestic assault.
• Justin Green was arrested on April 26 for domestic violence on County Road 25.
• Ulysses Kee was arrested on April 19 on an outstanding warrant for petty larceny and trespassing. Kee’s warrant stem from allegedly stealing watermelons from a farmer’s field last summer.
• Deatrain Jenkins was arrested on April 15 in Coffeeville for disorderly conduct. Jenkins also had prior charges after allegedly fleeing from troopers with the Mississippi Highway Patrol a month earlier.
“He allegedly turned around to avoid the troopers’ driver’s license checkpoint and fled,” Gooch said.
• Tony Jones of Oakland was arrested on April 7 for DUI-second offense and expired driver’s license. The arrest was made on Hwy. 32.
• Kerry Davidson was arrested on April 2 for shooting into a dwelling house. Davidson was arrested at his residence on County Road 186.
“The elderly homeowners live near the suspect,” Gooch reported. “They heard a noise inside the house and did not know what it was at first. They discovered a bullet came through the wall.”
• Markee Williams was arrested on April 3 for an outstanding arrest warrant for failure to register as a sex offender.
• Alexis Brown was arrested on March 30 on a arrest warrant from Grenada County.
• Ty’rekiss Johnson was arrested on March 30 at a driver’s license checkpoint on Hwy. 32 in Oakland for possession of a stolen firearm.
