Law Enforcement Report

By Editor | March 17, 2010 |

By David Howell
Editor

COFFEEVILLE – Following an intense 36 hour search, the Yalobusha Sheriff’s Department arrested a Coffeeville man sought in connection with possible arson and alleged burglary of a residence.

James Bardo was arrested March 10, after he had initially evaded authorities during a foot chase in the early morning hours on March 9. He became a suspect in the burglary shortly after firefighters arrived on the scene.

“Before the fire was put out, there was already suspicion after a fireman noted there had been a break-in in an adjacent shed,” Humphreys said about the incident.

While Civil Defense Director Frank Hyde, who also serves as the county’s arson investigator, and Deputy Ryan Winters were conducting an investigation at the fire, a pickup truck occupied by Bardo and a second man drove down the road. When Winters attempted to stop the truck, the pair drove off at a high rate of speed.

After a brief chase, the men bailed out of the vehicle and ran into the woods. One man was found hiding in the tall grass and was apprehended. Deputies determined the second man that had fled on foot was Bardo.

The second person in the vehicle who was initially apprehended has not been charged, but remains in the Yalobusha County Jail on unrelated charges, according to Humphreys.

“We have recovered a lot of items that had been taken from the home,” Humphreys added. At least two other people may be charged for possession of stolen items in connection with the crime.

Sheriff Lance Humphreys had asked the public’s help in locating Bardo in last week’s Herald after a March 8 fire gutted the home of the late Dewey Jarrell near Coffeeville.

“We got several tips, but Bardo stayed a step ahead of us through the day (March 10),” Humphreys said. He was ultimately captured at a relative’s home on County Road 135.

Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire.

“We are not able to say conclusively that the fire at the Jarrell residence was purposefully set,” Humphreys said. “The home was completely destroyed, which complicates the investigation to determine the origin of the fire.”

Other law enforcement activity reported by Humphreys during the last week includes:

• Jason Bray was arrested by the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics (MBN) with the help of the Coffeeville Police Department and the sheriff’s department. Bray was charged with manufacturing methamphetamine at a residence on Hwy. 330 on March 10.

“MBN got a tip of possible methamphetamine activity at this residence,” Humphreys reported. Authorities did a “knock and talk” and were granted permission to search the home. The arrest was made by MBN, who will also foot the bill to clean up any hazardous residue from the methamphetamine activity, according to Humphreys.

“Cleaning up a methamphetamine lab can cost $5,000,” Humphreys said.

• A second home was searched in Coffeeville by the Coffeeville Police Department and sheriff’s department the same night after a tip alerted authorities to possible drug activity.

“We did not find anything at this residence,” Humphreys said.

• That same night, authorities got a tip from a concerned citizen about a house on County Road 211, located between Coffeeville and Oakland, that could be involved in illegal narcotic activity.

While searching for the address, Humphreys reported he made a traffic stop after a passing vehicle did not dim their headlights.

“While I was running the vehicle’s tag, the occupants tossed several items out of the window,” the sheriff reported.

Humphreys said the items were marijuana and the driver of the vehicle, a juvenile from Oakland, will face felony possession of marijuana charges

“We are going to present this case to the next grand jury,” Humphreys said.

After the traffic stop, deputies, Coffeeville Police Chief Mark Martin and officers with MBN proceeded to the residence on County Road 211.

“We did another knock and talk and were granted consent to search this residence,” Humphreys said.

Danny Pruett, of Crowder, was charged with possession of methamphetamine after authorities discovered a substance alleged to be methamphetamine in his pocket during the search.

• Deputies were back searching for possible methamphetamine activity two nights later, Friday, March 12, after receiving a tip from the Grenada Police Department.

“We checked a residence after Grenada made an arrest stemming from methamphetamine activity and alerted us of a possible connection to a house in the county.

“We did not find anything at the residence, but there was time for any drug paraphernalia to be removed from the residence,” Humphreys said, referring to the time of the arrest in Grenada until Yalobusha deputies arrived at the residence.

“We have had problems at this residence before,” Humphreys added.

• Deputies made an arrest for DUI, second offense, on Hwy. 330 on March 11.

City Crime Report

WATER VALLEY – Lt. Rick McCuan reported the following law enforcement activity within the Water Valley City limits during the past week:

• Made four arrests for driving under suspension;

• Made three arrests for possession of marijuana;

• Made an arrest for shoplifting, first offense;

• Took a report of burglary on Wagner Street;

• Took a report of auto burglary;

• Took a report of simple assault;

• Took a report of stalking;

• Issued a citation for violation of the City junk ordinance;