Countywide Drug Sweep Leads To Eight Arrests
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WATER VALLEY – A multi-agency, year-long investigation into drug trafficking in Yalobusha County led to eight arrests. Yalobusha County Sheriff Jerimaine Gooch reported the arrests were made across the county in an effort to combat drug trafficking in the county.
“The investigations involved methamphetamine, powder cocaine and crack cocaine,” Sheriff Gooch reported.
The blitz of arrests were made on Nov. 22 and Nov. 23 and the suspects are each charged with sale of a controlled substance. The suspects arrested are: Justin Winters, 41, of Oakland, sale of a controlled substance; Eugene Gwin, Jr., 55, of Water Valley; Berry B. Spearman, 45, of Coffeeville; Ricky S. Watson, 39, of Coffeeville; Brandon D. Blackmon, 40, of Water Valley; Winfred E. Logan, 42, of Coffeeville; Austin Cecil Allen, 52, of Water Valley; and Latoya D. Simpson, 49, of Water Valley.
Deputies also seized alleged methamphetamine from Winters when he was arrested and alleged crack cocaine from Gwin when he was arrested.
Sheriff Gooch reported that the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics assisted in the year-long investigation. He also explained that tips from the public are often the catalyst to help identify areas in the county where there is suspected drug activity. He noted that it takes time, often months and months, to build a case before an arrest is made.
“There may be frustration after a caller reports frequent suspicious activity at a particular residence and there is not an immediate arrest,” Gooch added. “We frequently use confidential informants who will make multiple undercover drug purchases that are recorded with both audio and video footage. We must have this documentation in order for the case to stand up in court.”
Gooch also said that drug traffickers are keenly aware of this tactic, often making it a cat-and-mouse game between deputies and drug traffickers. The sheriff also explained that after the undercover drug purchases are made from one suspect, the arrest is often delayed as confidential informants are used to make drug buys from other suspects.
“We don’t want to burn our confidential informant, that is another reason it takes months before we make the arrests,“ Gooch added.
“We have other investigations into trafficking underway.”
Gooch said the cases will be presented to grand juries in the coming months. He also thanked the Water Valley Police Department for assisting with several of the arrests during the two-day round-up.
Other activity reported by the sheriff includes:
Anthony Rockett was arrested on Nov. 25.
• Anthony Rockett, 48, of Oakland, was arrested on Nov. 25 on a Lafayette County indictment for sale of a controlled substance and an outstanding bench warrant from circuit court.
• Shannon Mayo was arrested on Hwy. 32 on Nov. 26 for DUI, resisting arrest and assault on a police officer.
Shannon Mayo was arrested for DUI and other charges on Nov. 26.
• Timothy Brown of Water Valley was arrested on Nov. 30 for DUI, fourth offense.
• Deputies are investigating a burglary reported Monday morning at the District 4 County Barn located south of Oakland off of Hwy. 51. Gooch reported that two chainsaws and other tools were reported stolen when county workers arrived at the barn Monday morning.
