Fugitive Nabbed In Coffeeville

By David Howell

Editor

COFFEEVILLE – A fugitive wanted out of Detroit was captured by the Coffeeville Police Department Saturday afternoon. Coffeeville Police Chief Mark Martin reported Darnell Bryan Lewiel, age 39, was taken into custody without incident after officers executed a search warrant at his resident around 5 p.m.

Lewiel was listed as Detroit’s Most Wanted in June, 2016, wanted for six charges including assault with intent to murder, assault with intent to do great bodily harm less than murder, carrying a concealed weapon, assault with a dangerous weapon, possession by a felon and felony firearm.

Martin said Lewiel has been a familiar face in the community for a while. 

“He has been living here but we never had any run-ins with him,” the chief explained. He also said that Lewiel was simply known as “Don” and officers were unaware that he was a wanted man. Martin also said neither the vehicle he used nor the home he was staying in was titled in his name. 

“He stayed to himself,” Martin added. 

Martin said recent information led his officers to dig a little deeper and they determined that the resident known locally as Don was likely the fugitive listed as Detroit’s Most Wanted for the week of June 6, 2016. He also said the evidence was strong enough to get a search warrant, which validated their suspicions when they took him into custody and confirmed his identification.

Martin also said a gun was discovered at Lewiel’s residence at the time of Saturday’s arrest and he could face additional charges for felon in possession of a firearm.

“We will verify his criminal history before he will be charged,” Martin explained.  He is currently being held in the Yalobusha County Detention Center and is expected to be extradited to Detroit. 

Martin credited the Yalobusha County Sheriff’s Department and the U.S. Marshal’s Service for assistance in the investigation.