Operation Waterfall Leads To Arrests
Water Valley Police Officer Steve Story (left) and Yalobusha Sheriff’s Deputy Thomas West bring one of the 27 people arrested Monday during Operation Waterfall to the staging area behind the Sheriff’s office. – Photos by Jack Gurner
Water Valley Police Sergeant Bubba Jackson brings in one of the suspects arrested Monday during Operation Waterfall.
Yalobusha Sheriff’s deputy David Wallis fills out paperwork Monday as arrests were made in the drug round up. Each defendant was granted an initial appearance at the mobile home (above) behind the sheriff’s department after their arrest. At presstime Tuesday, a number of additional people who were indicted last Friday had turned themselves in to authorities.
Water Valley Police Officer Nathan Noe brings in one of the 27 people arrested early this week.
The staging area for the operation was behind the new Sheriff’s Department on CR 436 south of Water Valley.
WATER VALLEY – Law enforcement officers arrested 27 people on drug charges in Water Valley and other areas of Yalobusha County on Monday and Tuesday.
Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics Director Marshall Fisher said the arrests stem from an 18-month joint investigation, code-named Operation Waterfall, conducted by the MBN, the Yalobusha County Sheriff’s Office, Water Valley and Coffeeville police departments, with assistance from the U.S. Marshals Service. He said more arrests are expected.
“This was a great joint operation between all of the participating agencies,” Yalobusha Sheriff Lance Humphreys added.
“There were a total of 39 people indicted by a grand jury last Friday for the sale of a controlled substance,” Humphreys added. Other indictments were handed down for possession of a controlled substance.
On Monday morning the roundup began as the multiple agencies involved staged behind the sheriff’s department.
“We divided into teams where we could hit multiple addresses in a short time,” the sheriff added.
By noon Monday, officers had already arrested 15 of the 39 charged.
In addition to the charges they already face, Director Fisher said some could face other charges resulting from Monday’s seizure of a quarter-pound of marijuana, three weapons and $4,368 in cash.
Water Valley Police Chief Mike King added that when the agencies involved are able to combine their efforts it maximizes the impact of drug enforcement in the community.
“These arrests are made possible by the ongoing narcotic and money seizures made by patrol officers that fund the undercover investigations.”
The following list of names was provided by the law enforcement agencies involved.
Arrested and transported to the Yalobusha County Jail were:
• Michael Lee Wright, 54, Water Valley, sale of hydrocodone/conspiracy, $3,000 bond;
• Jason Dewayne Jones, 28, Water Valley, sale of cocaine, $3,000 bond;
• Anthony Gooch, 28, Water Valley, sale of cocaine/conspiracy, no bond – being held for the state Department of Corrections;
• Anthony Rockette, Water Valley, three counts of sale of cocaine, no bond – being held for the state Department of Corrections;
• Antonio Lamar Cooper, 28, sale of cocaine, no bond — being held for the state Department of Corrections;
• Taruno M. Carothers, 30, of Water Valley, two counts of sale of cocaine, $6,000 bond;
• Kevin Pritchard, 30, Water Valley, sale of cocaine, $3,000 bond;
• Nezzie Earl Benson, 59, Water Valley, sale of cocaine and possession of cocaine, $6,000 bond;
• Kenya Anthony Rucker, 35, Water Valley, six counts of sale of cocaine $15,000 bond;
• Janicholas Vankeith Scott, 29, Water Valley, four counts of sale of cocaine and two counts of sale of marijuana, $15,000 bond;
• Jordan Redwine, 21, Water Valley, sale of hydrocodone, $3,000 bond;
• Johnny C. Hervey, 45, Water Valley, possession of controlled substance;
• Jeffery Shaw, 35, possession of controlled substance;
• Jerry Harkins, 64, possession of controlled substance;
• Oddis C. Bar, Jr., 35, Water Valley, possession of controlled substance;
• Sarah Horton, 29, Water Valley, possession of controlled substance;
• David Rockett, 54, Water Valley, possession of controlled substance;
• Aston T. Spear-man, 29, Water Valley, possession of controlled substance;
• Emario Walls, 27, Water Valley, sale of controlled substance;
• Lonterron Benson, 28, Water Valley, sale of controlled substance;
• Brandon Blackmon, 26, Water Valley, sale of controlled substance;
• William Poynor, 38, Water Valley, sale of controlled substance;
• Quincy Holmes, 34, Water Valley, sale of controlled substance;
• Michael Rockette, 39, of Water Valley, possession of more than an ounce of marijuana, $1,000 bond;
• Jamison Cory Rockette, 27, of Water Valley, sale of marijuana, $3,000 bond;
• James Wilton Johnson Jr., 23, of Water Valley, two counts of sale of cocaine, $6,000 bond; and
• Tyrone Kimble, 30, of 66 Collins St., Coffeeville, sale of cocaine, $3,000 bond.
“This roundup was originally scheduled in November but was delayed to allow the MBN to conclude a separate high-profile drug case,” Humphreys added.
He was referring to the November 26 arrests made across the state involving a large drug ring with connections to Yalobusha County.
