Juveniles Target Two Stores
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WATER VALLEY — Water Valley police are investigating a pair of thefts involving juveniles targeting local businesses in what Police Chief Jason Mangrum described as “coordinated distractions.”
The most recent incident occurred May 2 at Slacker’s Smoke Shop on Central Street, where Mangrum said three juveniles appeared to work together inside the store.
“We had a group of juveniles come in,” Mangrum said. “One of the juveniles kept asking questions in an attempt to distract the clerk while at least one juvenile grabbed a basket of items and ran out the door.”
One juvenile remained at the scene and spoke with officers. Through that interaction and follow-up investigation, officers were able to identify the other suspects.
“We were able to identify the other two,” Mangrum said. “We’re going to send all three to youth court.”
A similar incident occurred earlier on April 8 at Magnolia Formal Wear on Railroad Street. In that case, Mangrum said the juveniles used a similar tactic.
“One of them went in there with the premise of going to rent a dress… while the other one went behind the counter and emptied out her cash drawer,” he said.
Officers responded and were able to quickly develop a suspect description, leading to a foot pursuit nearby.
“Officers got a good clothing description and got into a foot pursuit and were able to get one of the suspects into custody,” Mangrum said. “Interviewing him, he gave up his accomplice.”
Mangrum said one of the suspects is connected to both incidents, bringing the total number of juveniles involved across the two cases to four.
Approximately $140 in cash was taken from the dress shop. The value of items taken from Slacker’s was not immediately available.
Mangrum said one of the suspects, who is 17, has had prior contact with law enforcement, and the department is seeking to have the case handled at a higher level.
“We frequently deal with him on various incidents,” Mangrum said. “We’re actually trying to petition the youth court to adjudicate him up to an adult.”
Even if that request is not granted, Mangrum said the situation is likely to change soon.
“If he doesn’t this time… he turns 18 in June,” he said. “Then he goes to big boy court.”
Other activity reported by the chief:
• Dontavis Poole, 23, of Charleston, was arrested on April 25 following a traffic stop on Highway 7 for speeding, 66 in a 55 MPH zone. Officers reported smelling marijuana and located marijuana in the vehicle and on Poole’s person, along with four pills that field-tested positive for methamphetamine. Poole was charged with possession of a controlled substance and later bonded out.
• Gwendolyn Graham, 53, of Banner, was arrested on April 23 during a traffic stop after officers determined she was wanted in Lee County on a charge of abuse of a vulnerable person. She was held in Yalobusha County before being transported to Lee County.
• Luster Pomlee, 59, of Water Valley was arrested on a bench warrant on April 23 for failure to appear in court. Officers conducted a traffic stop and took him into custody. The warrant stemmed from an earlier incident in the city when Pomlee backed into the chief’s patrol vehicle while leaving a store where he allegedly shoplifted items.
• Percy L. Phillips Jr., 66, of Waterloo, Iowa, was arrested on April 27 for trespassing at the Minor Apartments on Eckford Street. Officers were dispatched to the location and found Phillips on a porch where he did not reside. After refusing to leave and being unable to secure a ride, he was taken into custody.
