On 6/21/2011, Dontrel Buchanan aka toot 21 of 88 Deer Trail Columbus was arrested in Lee County on a Prentiss County felony warrant. the arrest stems from a Burglary in Prentiss County on 3/11/11 near Baldwyn. He is currently free on a $5000.00 bond. this case is being presented to grand jury this week.

On 05/25/2011 Saturday Nathan Harold Williams age 42 of 57 CR 8050 Booneville was arrested and charged with Manufacturing a Controlled Substance (Meth). He has been released on a $25,000 bond. He and another individual had been arrested in Alcorn County the middle of last week after a Traffic Stop led to their arrests on Drug Charges in Alcorn County. Further investigation led to Williams residence on Cr 8050 Booneville where a Meth lab was discovered.

Tracye Ann Thomas aka Tracye Ann Whitlow age 34 of 1011 CR 261 Blue Springs was arrested 06/22/2011 by Prentiss County Investigators after a month long investigation concerning the theft of personal checks belonging to a Senior Citizen from Baldwyn and the forgery and cashing of those checks. Thomas's boyfriend is presently in jail in Lee County on unrelated charges. Once he is released from Lee County, he will be transferred to Prentiss County to face charges. Thomas entered the victims house on the pretext of running out of gas. She stole the checks and returned later asking to use the bathroom and then reportedly stole the whole checkbook. Several of the checks were cashed in Baldwyn and one in Mooreville. She is charged with multiple counts of Forgery, Uttering a Forgery and Conspiracy to Commit Forgery. Her bond is set at $25,000 and she remains in custody.

"I want to caution everyone about allowing people into your homes, like this instance. Even when you are trying to be helpful to someone, there is always someone ready to take advantage of people's willingness to help others. I'm not advocating not helping others but be extremely aware of what is going on around you and never leave someone unattended in your home or allow them to move freely about in your house."


Sheriff Randy M Tolar

Dare Graduation Jumpertown

On Mother's Day Sunday 05/08/2011 Prentiss County Narcotics Investigators and Deputies in cooperation with the North Mississippi Narcotics Unit based out of Tupelo executed a search warrant at 667 HWY 145 at Frankstown, just south of Booneville. The search revealed a Methamphetamine Lab and some finished product. The following two individuals were arrested; 1) Mark A Mills age 46 of 312 East Lovelace Road Booneville who was charged with Manufacturing a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine) and Possession of Methamphetamine, his bond was set at $35,000 2) Timothy N Applegate age 45 of 4 CR 206 Burnsville was Charged with Manufacturing Methamphetamine, his bond was set at $25,000. Both have been released on bond at this time. This was a great job on everyone part and helps us send a clear message to Drug Dealers and Those the Manufacture such drugs.

Sheriff Randy M Tolar

On 05/05/2011 Prentiss County Investigators arrested Ronnie Lee Jones and charged him with Grand Larceny in regards to the theft of a purse and contents. The incident occurred several days before the arrest. Some of the property was recovered. His bond was set at $10,000 and he was released on bond 05/09/2011. His case will be presented to the next Prentiss County Grand Jury.

Sheriff Randy M Tolar

On 05/09/2011 Gary Wayne Woolridge age 29 of 820 CR 115 New Albany was arrested and charged with multiple counts of Uttering a Forged Instrument. His bond was set at $25,000. He has been released on bond. Woolridge had been working as a Corrections Officer with the Prentiss County Sheriff's Office for several years. The incident was discovered when a relative reported that his account had insufficient funds to cover his checks. The relative was in the military and had stored his belongs at Woolridge's residence, while on deployment. Other checks had been passed in Itawamba, Lee and Union Counties. The incident was originally reported to the Itawamba Sheriff's Office. Upon issuance of an arrest warrant from Itawamba, we initiated an investigation that led to these charges.

Sheriff Randy M Tolar

On Friday May 27th 2011 at 10am until 2pm, The Prentiss County TRIAD in cooperation with the Prentiss County Sheriff's Office will sponsor the 10th Annual TRIAD Senior Citizens Appreciation Day at the Family Life Center of the First United Methodist Church in Booneville, located behind the Baptist Memorial Hospital. We will have entertainment by Special Guests Kay Bain, Tonya Finch and Roy Chandler. There will be food for everyone and plenty of Great door prizes with enough to go around for everyone. We invite everyone to come out and help up honor our Senior Citizens. The Prentiss County TRIAD and The Prentiss County Sheriff's Office have held this event for ten years now. Each year we have grown in attendance. The first few years we held the event at Ray's Place at the Hobo Station until we outgrew that facility and then moved to the West Side Community Center and Three of Four years ago outgrew the Community Center and we were then given the opportunity to hold the function at it's present location, the 1st United Methodist Church Family Life Center. We are very appreciative for have such a fine location. Help us get the word out to every individual, and any Senior Group or Church Group that might want to attend. The TRIAD was formed to help provided a better quality of life for our Senior Citizens and to give them the resources to make their lives safer. We have done this by providing 911 signs, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors and fire extinguishers. We also have held group meeting to educate our Senior Citizens about home safety, scams and personal protection. This is a worthy cause and there will be many vendors present with information and details about a variety of subject matters that might pertain to Senior Citizens.

Senior randy M Tolar

A Narcotics Investigation in Prentiss County led to the arrest of three individuals on drug charges. On 04/15/2011 Friday night, Narcotics Investigators discovered a working Meth lab at 1 CR 1123 Booneville. Three individuals were present, but one of them fled the location and was apprehended several days later. Deputies arrested Andrew Scott Franklin age 19 of 100 August Circle Apts # 2B Booneville and Samuel Lee Howell 42 239 CR 1101 Booneville at the scene and on 04/21/2011 Thursday arrested Joshua David Wilemon 20 of 1 CR 1123 Booneville. Wilemon ran from the Officers the night of the incident but was apprehended this past Thursday. All three were charged with Manufacturing a Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine). Howell and Franklin's bond was set at $5,000. Howell has been released on bond. Franklin remains in custody and Wilemon's bond has not been set at this time. Investigators discovered the working lab along with approx. a gram of finished product..

Sheriff Randy M Tolar

Prentiss County Deputy Sheriff Keith Lovell made a traffic stop on HWY 4 West on Monday night of 04/18/2001 that resulted in the felony arrest of Dewayne L Hodges 42 of 218 Elmwood Dr Ripley. Hodges was charged with Felony Possession of a Controlled Substance being over an ounce of Marijuana. Deputies also seized $1,173.00 in cash, US Currency. His bond was set $10,000 He was released on bond 04/19/2011.

Sheriff Randy M Tolar

A joint undercover narcotics investigation came to a conclusion this past week after Investigators and Officers arrested the last of several suspects involved in the illegal sale and possession of pharmaceutical drugs. The following are five of the suspects that were charged through the County. Arrested 04/08 was Charles Trent Prater 28 of 201 Caldwell Dr Booneville was charged with Sale, Transfer, Delivery of a Controlled Substance. His bond was set at $10,000 but is being has a hold placed on him by the Mississippi Department of Corrections,04/01 Billy Windham 44 of 107 Rosewood Drive Booneville was charged with Sale, Transfer or Delivery of a Controlled Substance. His bond was set at $10,000 but MDOC also has a hold on him. 04/04 Jackie Sims 55 of 992 HWY 30 East Booneville was charged with Sale, Transfer, Delivery or Possess with the intent to Sell Transfer of Deliver a Controlled Substance. His bond was set at $5,000. He was freed on bond the following day. 04/08 Kathleen May Jones 48 was charged with Sale, Transfer, Delivery or Possession with the intent to sell, transfer of deliver a Controlled Substance. Her bond was set at $5,000. She made bond 04/10. 04/07 Cindy Regina Grisham 289 CR 1251 Booneville was charged with Sale, Transfer, or Delivery of a Controlled Substance. Her bond was set at $10,000 but MDOC has a hold on her.
These arrested along with the three arrested made by the City of Booneville emphasis the cooperation between local Law Enforcement in regards to Narcotics Enforcement. This undercover operation hopefully will slow down some of the Pharmaceutical abuse in this area. I am so proud of both Joey Clark and Booneville Narcotics Investigator Josh Davis. They work as a team and in cooperation with and using the resources provided by North Mississippi Narcotics Unit made this possible.

Sheriff Randy M Tolar

Attached is a photo of a Honda 450 Four Wheeler and three saddles that have been recovered by the Sheriff's Office recently. The Four Wheeler was recovered in Tippah County shortly after the theft and the saddles were recovered a couple of weeks ago. No arrests have been made at this time. The theft occurred at a farm located on CR 7081 in December. Anyone having information that might lead to an arrest or arrests, please contact Crimestoppers or the Prentiss County Sheriff's Office at 662-728-2002.

Pictured in the Photo are Sheriff Tolar and the Victim Mrs. Shuler.

Sheriff Randy M Tolar

On 03/25/2011 Thursday Night early Friday morning, Prentiss County Deputy David Berrios made a traffic stop on West of Booneville that resulted in the discovery of 133 bags of Marijuana with a total weight of almost 1 pound. The Deputy arrested Jay Edgar Helton of 1319 HWY 9 North Guntown, age 20. He was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance (Marijuana) with the intent to sell or distribute. His bond was set at $10,000. He was released on bond later the same day. It was determined through our investigation that Helton was a student at Northeast Mississippi Community College and had been supplying other students. This was a major arrest, anytime we can arrest someone that was selling this quantity of drugs and also selling to students. I hope this sends a clear message to others that might try the same thing. I am very pleased with this arrest and the Investigating Officers did an outstanding job. In addition to the bags of marijuana Investigators also seized cash and other evidence of his drug dealings.

Sheriff Tolar

On Thursday 03/24/2011 Prentiss Deputies arrested Wesley John Weatherbee age 45 of 38B CR 8200 Rienzi and charged him with Possession of Controlled Substance (Methamphetamine)(ICE). Ice is a more pure form of Methamphetamine. Weatherbee was arrested after a traffic stop on HWY 4 west revealed that he was in possession of the controlled substance. His bond was set at $5,000 and he was released the following day on bond.

On 03/20/2011 Sunday Jeremy Arnold age 28 of 574 CR 5031 Booneville was arrested and charged with Felony taking of a Motor Vehicle pertaining to an incident that occurred several months ago where two other individuals were also arrested previously for taking a vehicle that didn't belong to them and taking it to a scrap yard and selling it to be crushed as salvage. Arnold's is being held without bond due to a previous indictment from Alcorn County. He also is facing numerous other misdemeanor charges in Prentiss County.

Sheriff Tolar

On Friday March 11th the arrest of a illegal alien, Jose Martinez age 34 of #3 Oasis Apartments HWY 45 North Booneville was arrested after an undercover operation involving the Prentiss County Sheriff's Office, Booneville Police Department and North Mississippi Narcotics. Undercover Officers had allegedly made purchases of Cocaine from the suspect. A search warrant was executed Friday at the suspects apartment. Investigators discovered 3.5 grams of powder Cocaine and $1,140 in US Currency. Martinez is charged with Possession of Controlled Substance (Cocaine) with intent to sell and Sale of a Controlled Substance (Cocaine). He is being held at the present time with No Bond. He had given Investigators several bogus names before he was properly identified. Investigators contacted ICE concerning the suspects illegal immigration status and they will be placing a hold on him, once these charges are disposed of. The Officers in this case did a wonderful job.

Sheriff Tolar

On 03/11/2011 Prentiss County Investigators received the report of a Burglary that occurred on CR 6100 just out side the City limits of Baldwyn. Investigators worked throughout the day and night investigating the crime and subsequently arrested two individuals and charged them when the burglary. Investigators in cooperation with The Tupelo Police Department, who assisted our Investigators in locating the suspects and stolen property. All the stolen property was recovered from one of the suspects vehicles, which included Two flat panel TVs, a handgun, a laptop computer and other electronics. The following two individuals were arrested by Investigators Friday night and transported to Prentiss County: Bryson Jamal Whitfield age 20 of 1005 Rockefeller Ave Tupelo charged with Burglary and Larceny $5,000 Bond, was released on bond Sat. Lapisces Panzetta Shelley age 22 of 238 South Second Street Baldwyn Charged with Burglary and Larceny and Conspiracy to commit Burglary and Larceny her bond was set at $10,000 and was also released Sat on Bond The Investigator handling the case did an outstanding job taking the leads he developed and pursuing it until the culmination of the case.

Sheriff Tolar

03/01/2011 Tuesday night just after 9pm we got a call from Wheeler concerning a suspicious Black man dressed in a hoodie (hooded coat) coming out of a vacant house by the Methodist Church and he was carrying a big stick. The two Deputies on duty were working a wreck east of Marietta near the Natchez Trace. Reed Sparks, a Reserve Deputy heard the call on the scanner and responded from his home to the call. In the meantime we received a second call from another caller that the individual was banging on their door. When Sparks arrived the individual had already left that residence and was walking down the street. Deputy Sparks proceeded down the street shining his spotlight and located the individual. Once the Officer got the individuals attention, the individual approached the Officer who was still seated in his patrol vehicle. The Officer instructed the person to step back away from his vehicle. The individual took a couple steps back and started forcefully (with both hands) thrusting the stick, which was sharpened on one end through the patrol vehicles open window striking Deputy Sparks several times . in the side of the face, casing a puncture wound and abrasions. Deputy Sparks managed to get to a canister of pepper spray he had in his coat pocket and spray the individual, giving him enough time to force the door open, pushing the person away from the vehicle. Once Officer Sparks was outside the vehicle the subject produced a knife. At some point the individual ran around to the passengers side of the patrol vehicle and got in the passengers side attempting to put the shifter in drive. Sparks returned to the driver side with weapon in hand and attempted to cut off the ignition and remove the keys. The individual then began trying to stab Deputy Sparks. During the struggle Deputy Sparks firearm discharged. At that point the person fell back out of the vehicle. Deputy Sparks was able to call for back up at one point. When Sparks got around to the passengers side of the vehicle the individual began striking Deputy Sparks with the stick while holding the knife in his other hand The Deputy was able to subdue the individual about the same time several backup Officers had arrived from their respective homes. The individual was uninjured, Sparks was treated at Baptist Memorial Hospital for his injuries. The man was a young man from Guntown with no past criminal record in his 20's. He was charged with Aggravated Assault on a Police Officer and his Bond was set at $150,000. He remains in custody. This was a serious attack on this Officer that could have easily resulted in the Officers death or more serious injury. Deputy Sparks used great restraint It was a surprise attack with the Officer having no forewarning, while he was simply checking out a suspicious person. It goes to show how dangerous it is for Law Enforcement Officers everywhere, even in rural Prentiss County Mississippi. It was in March 1999 when Deputy Micheal Hisaw lost his life under very similar circumstances.

Sheriff Tolar

On 02/25/2011 Kristen Nicole Pounds 19 of 504 CR 4101 Booneville and Terry Joe Prater 22 of 201 Caldwell Road were arrested by a Prentiss County Reserve Deputy in the Thrasher Community. Authorities had been searching for them during the investigation of the theft of a Pickup stolen that was taken in mid Jan. 2011. During the process of the arrest and booking, Pounds was discovered to have two syringes in her possession that contained a controlled substance. Prater is being held on a $5,000 bond on a Grand Larceny Charge Prater was also charged with an unrelated Burglary that occurred in the City limits, his bond was set at $10,000 on that charge. Pounds has two $10,000 bonds on two unrelated Possession of Controlled Substance Charges, the one mentioned above and another previous incident, in which she had not been charged. She has a $5,000 bond on the Grand Larceny Charge related to the theft of the Truck. The later part of last week Pounds had plead guilty to Forgery charges in Prentiss County Circuit Court and had been sentenced to Probation under Non Adjudication. This meant, if she had successfully completed her probation, she would not have had a felony record. She is being held pending, her going back in front of the Judge.

The Truck was not recovered. It had been taken to a salvage yard and crushed.

Sheriff Tolar