City Police Officers Help Lafayette Nab Suspect
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Marcus Tyson
WATER VALLEY – A Lafayette County man wanted for sexual battery was arrested on Market Street on Feb. 14. Water Valley Police Chief Jason Mangrum reported Marcus Tyson, 41, was nabbed following a brief foot pursuit as city officers were assisting the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Department serve the arrest warrant.
“He had previously made threats to kill law enforcement officers if we tried to arrest him, so this was a precarious situation,” Mangrum reported. “He tried to flee but officers quickly got him in cuffs. They also discovered a substance believed to be methamphetamine in his possession.”
The chief said the arrest came after officers checked multiple residences before locating Tyson. He was turned over to Lafayette County deputies to answer charges in the neighboring jurisdiction for sexual battery of a child under the age of 14.
Marcus Tyson’s wife, Catherine Tyson, was also charged with sexual battery of a child under 14 and arrested by Lafayette County deputies. The Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office issued a press release stating that a report was filed on Feb. 11 regarding the past sexual battery and molestation of a child. An investigation followed that prompted the charges for the couple.
Mangrum reported that the alleged methamphetamine discovered on Marcus Tyson will be sent to the crime lab and charges for possession of a controlled substance will be presented to the next grand jury.
“We sent him back to Lafayette County to answer those charges first,” the chief added.
Mangrum said that Tyson lives just across the county line in Lafayette County.
“We have had interactions with him before for violation of a protection order.”
Other activity reported by the chief:
• Officers arrested Cynthia Gooch, 38, of Water Valley on Feb. 16 after they were dispatched to Simmons Street for a report of trespassing. Mangrum reported Gooch had been asked by the property owner to stay off the property.
“She came back on the property while officers were there and was arrested for trespassing,” Mangrum said.
During the arrest, officers discovered drug paraphernalia and a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine in her possession. The substance field-tested positive for methamphetamine and officers charged Gooch with possession of a controlled substance and resisting arrest in addition to trespassing. Officers also found another substance that will be sent to the crime lab for identification that could trigger an additional charge for possession of a controlled substance.
“She was very belligerent when officers made the arrest, and resisted,” Mangrum added.
Gooch appeared in municipal court and a $5,000 bond was set. She was released on the bond, but arrested again by the bail bondsman on Feb. 23 after she did not pay.
“We were contacted by a bail bondsman who wanted to revoke the bond,” the chief explained.
During the second arrest, officers discovered that she had a methamphetamine pipe in her possession and she was charged with possession of paraphernalia. Gooch was booked in the Yalobusha County Detention Center and will have a preliminary hearing on Feb. 28.
• Officers investigated a reported a stolen UHaul trailer that had been returned to a business in Water Valley that rents UHaul vehicles and trailers. Mangrum said the trailer had been rented in Texas and had been scheduled to be returned to a UHaul location in Georgia. Instead the person kept the trailer for six months before dropping it off in Water Valley.
“It showed up on the lot when the owner was doing inventory,” the chief explained.
Mangrum said his department spent several hours on the case before UHaul dropped the charges in Georgia.
“Which is pretty common with UHaul. If they get their property back without damage, they will go after you civilly to recoup their losses,” the chief stated.
• Enos Conard, 62, of Water Valley was arrested for DUI Fourth, a felony, on Feb. 20. Officers stopped Conard on Central Street after observing that he did not have a license tag and all four occupants inside were not wearing seat belts.
“Officers detected the odor of an intoxicating beverage and launched a DUI investigation. They determined that he was over the legal limit to be driving,” Mangrum said.
Conard had at least three prior convictions for DUI and registered .1 percent blood-alcohol-content on the intoxilyzer.
• Kerrigan Chrestman, 24, of Water Valley was arrested for driving with a suspended license on Feb. 20 following a traffic stop on Central Street for no license tag. Mangrum reported that driving with a suspended license is an arrestable offense.
“The municipal judge has instructed officers to arrest the driver instead of issuing a citation for this offense,” Mangrum explained.
Chrestman was booked in the Yalobusha County Detention Center and posted a $500 bond.
• David Reed, III, of Water Valley was arrested on an outstanding warrant from the Town of Coffeeville and Tiffany Brown, also of Water Valley was arrested for trespassing on Feb. 18. Mangrum reported the arrests were made after officers were dispatched to Rolling Hills for a report of an assault. While on the scene, officers learned that Brown had been previously instructed to stay off property owned by the Water Valley Housing Authority, prompting the arrest. Reed was turned over to Coffeeville police officers.
“We instructed Brown that she can come by the police station and file charges against Reed for the assault, but she hasn’t filed them yet,” Mangrum said.
• Devin Conard, 22, of Water Valley was arrested on Feb. 17 for uttering forgery and on Feb. 19 for false pretenses. Conard allegedly cashed a social security check from a deceased family member at a local business on Feb. 13. Mangrum said Conard signed the name of the family member who the check was issued to and cashed it.
“The family member died before the check was printed,” the chief added.
Officers initially charged Conard with uttering forgery for attempting to cash the check.
“They learned later that he had actually cashed the check and Conard was charged with the second offense,” Mangrum explained.
“This was good work by the officers for following up and obtaining all of the relevant information.”
