An undercover operation of five to six months by Booneville Police Criminal Investigation Division (CID), the Prentiss County Sheriff’s Department Narcotics Officer and North Mississippi Narcotics has resulted in nine people being arrested on felony narcotics charges, said Detective Capt. Michael Ramey, Booneville CID supervisor. Other arrests are pending.“Booneville Patrol Officers and Prentiss County Deputies rounded these people up between Jan. 2-8. All of these felony cases will be presented to the Prentiss County grand jury,” Ramey said. Approximately 4 to 5 grams of crack cocaine were seized from these individuals,” he said. Approximately $663 cash was also seized.“This was a good job between the city narcotics and county narcotics officers working together.” Those arrested and their charges are:

- Anthony Toby Shinault, 48, of 109 Jacinto Heights #1, Booneville, sale of crack cocaine. Bond $15,000.

- Robert E. Jones Jr., 36, 106 Cedar St., Apt. C, Booneville, two counts sale of crack cocaine within 1,500 feet of a church. Bond is $20,000. He is being held by the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) on a probation violation.

- Terrell Jones, 22, of 106 Oak St., Booneville, one count sale of crack cocaine within 1,500 feet of a church; also charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. He is being held without bond by the District Attorney’s office because he was out on a prior felony bond.

- Johnny Ray Chambers, 66, of 204 King St., Apt. 4D, Booneville, sale of crack cocaine within 1,500 feet of a church; also charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Bond is $30,000.

- Chuckie Leach, 37, of 713 Jacinto Road, Booneville, possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Bond is $20,000. He is also being held by the MDOC for a probation violation.

- Robert Mack Miller, 54, of 211 Cedar St., Booneville, possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Bond is $20,000.

- Cornelius Young, 33, of 1001 Jacinto Rd., Booneville, conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. He is being held without bond because he was out on a felony bond.

- Roy Williams, 47, of 213 Cedar St., Booneville, possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Bond is $20,000.

- Bridgette Southward, 42, of 1002 MLK Drive, Booneville, possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute and conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine. Bond is $20,000. She is being held by MDOC for a probation violation.

On 12/31/2009 James Aaron White age 29 of 268 HWY 370 west of Baldwyn was arrested and charged with burglary in connection with an incident that occurred back on 10/06/2009 at a residence on CR 6381 Baldwyn. The initial report stated that unknown individuals entered and took two guns from a vehicle at his residence. We can credit witnesses at the scene for giving us the initial lead in the case with a description of a vehicle. I encourage everyone to heighten their awareness of suspicious people and vehicles in our communities and neighborhoods. Investigator Sammy Henderson is the lead Investigator on the case with Investigator Roy Ragin assisting. After White's arrest, Investigators recovered several guns on 01/05.2010 Tuesday that White had disposed of. Investigators actually recovered more guns than was reported stolen. The Investigators determined that there were actually three guns taken in the burglary rather than two and the victim didn't realize it until saw the other guns. We still are attempting to identify two other guns that were recovered, both long guns. White was released on a $2,500 bond 01/02/2010. This was a case that everything came together with the cooperation of numerous people and Law Enforcement agencies. Our Investigators did a great job in solving the burglary and finally tracking down the suspect after looking for him for an extended period of time.

Sheriff Randy Tolar

On Dec. 20th North Mississippi Community College Part Time Law Enforcement Officers Training Academy held it's Graduation ceremony. The Prentiss County Sheriff's Officer graduated three employees. Left to Right Rusty Burroughs, Justin Underwood, Elizabeth Lindsay and Sheriff Randy Tolar. I am very proud of their accomplishments. All three were recognized for their excellence of performance during the training. Rusty Burrough (Dispatcher) received the Highest Academic Award, Elizabeth Lindsay (Dispatcher) received the Driving Award for the Best Score and Justin Underwood (Corrections Officer) was recognized for receiving the third highest score in both Firearms Training and Physical Fitness Training. Now that these Officers have graduated they can serve in a sworn capacity that hopefully will relieve some of the full time sworn officers tasks such as transports and court duties.

Sheriff Tolar

On Weds night 11/25/2009 Prentiss County Deputies arrested Jackie Eaton after checking out suspicious activity at a vacant house on HWY 4 East. Eaton was found to be in possession of several dosage units of dilaudid. He was charged with Possession of Controlled Substance and his bond was set at $10,000. He was released Friday on Bond.

On Nov.16th 2009 Prentiss County Deputies went to arrest two individuals on recent indictments handed down by a Prentiss County Grand Jury. During the arrests at the suspects home on CR 7301 Deputies discovered that one on the individuals, Jason Hargett was in possession of methamphetamine in his pocket. The Deputies notified our Narcotics Officer who in turn obtained a search warrant for the residence. After the search was conducted, both individuals faced additional charges besides the indictments. The pair, Mother and Son, Cathy Shadburn age 49 of 756 CR 7301 was charged with Possession of Precursors and Jason L Hargett age 27 of 756 CR 7301 was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with the intent to sell or transfer and Possession of Precursors. Both individuals are being held without bond. The reason being is that both were already out on bonds for felony charges. This was a great job on everybody's part and good luck as far as the timing of the arrests.

On 11/18/2009 Prentiss County Authorities executed a Search Warrant on CR 1123 Booneville and arrested Jackie Arnold age 51 of 1 CR 1123 Booneville and Josh David Wilemon 18 of the same address. Arnold was charged with Manufacturing Marijuana and Possession of Precursors and Wilemon was Charged with Manufacturing Methamphetamine and Possession of Precursors. Both were released on $50,000 Bonds. Booneville Police Narcotics and North Ms Narcotics assisted in the case.

A Prentiss County Grand Jury recently indicted nine individuals on various charges relating to a Chop Shop Investigation that was initiated earlier this year. The investigation revealed several incidents of insurance fraud, in which the vehicle owners were allegedly a part of a scheme or plan to report their respective vehicles stolen and then collect the insurance. At least one whole vehicle was recovered and a multitude of auto parts were recovered that was related to the alleged insurance frauds Several other vehicles were recovered that those involved allegedly had attempted to disguise the true identity. A Chop Shop is a place that stolen vehicles or reported stolen vehicles are dismantled, parts sold or the operators attempt to disguise the vehicles identity by switching Vehicle Identification Numbers or mutilate those identifiers to prevent identification. Two separate searches were conducted at 49 CR 7149 Booneville.The following individuals were arrested as of 11/17/2009

Henry Lawson age 68 of 49 CR 7149 Booneville was charged with (CT 1 Operating a Chop Shop,) (CT 2 Possession of a vehicle with altered VIN 2cts),(CT 3 Receiving or Possessing Stolen Property,) (Conspiracy to commit Insurance Fraud, and Insurance Fraud, three CTS each) Lawson is free on a $50,000 Bond

Linda Lawson age 53 of 49 CR 7149 Booneville was charged with Possession of a Vehicle with a Mutilated VIN. She is free on a $5,000 Bond

Robert (Bobby) Anthony Lawson age 36 of 49 CR 7149 was charged with (CT 1 Operating a Chop Shop CT 2 Possession of Vehicle with Altered VIN two cts) and Receiving or Possessing Stolen Property and Attempting to disguise the true identity of a stolen motor vehicle part. He is free of $30,000 Bond.

Benny Burcham age 61 of 35 CR 7149 was charged with Two Counts of Possession of a Vehicle with a Switched VIN and Possession of a firearm by a Convicted Felon. He is Free on a $10,000 Bond

Ronald Dunn age 38 of 112 CR 753 Corinth was charged with Receiving Stolen Property and Perjury. He is free on a $10,000 bond.

Brandon Lewellen age 24 of 764 HWY 4 West Booneville was charged with Conspiracy to commit Insurance Fraud and Insurance Fraud. He is free on $10,000 Bond

Patrick Dukes age 27 of 66 CR 257 Glen was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Insurance Fraud and Insurance Fraud. He is free on a $10,000 bond.

Jeff Sanders age 46 of 4506 Meadow Ridge Tupelo was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Insurance Fraud and Insurance Fraud. He is free on a $10,000 bond.

Brian Scott Leslie age 51 of 385 Morgan Wood Road Tupelo was charged with Conspiracy to Commit Insurance Fraud and Insurance Fraud. he is free on a $10,000 bond.

Numerous Agencies have assisted Prentiss County Authorities during the course of the Investigation including Booneville Police Narcotics Officer, New Albany Police Department, Alcorn County Sheriff's Office and the Tupelo Police Department, Tippah County Sheriff's Office and the National Crime Insurance Bureau, and Federal Bureau of Investigation.