PICAYUNE — A tip from a confidential informant allowed the capture of an alleged kidnapping suspect, a stolen car was totaled in a wreck by a house guest, three burglary incidents were tied to one man, Pearl River County’s gated community was hit by vandals and a pastor declined to press charges on alleged thieves he knew.

Those five incidents all lead to arrests, or the solving of the crime, by Pearl River County Sheriff’s deputies and investigators.

Chief Investigator Shane Tucker said Wednesday that a female victim was accosted and kidnapped when she went to visit an acquaintance at 20 S. Fork Rd. She was allegedly bound with duct tape, held against her will and eventually rescued by a convenience store clerk.

The victim was apparently visiting 31 year-old Virgil Lamont Jarvis, sometime between 4 and 6 p.m. When the victim went to leave the home, Jarvis allegedly used a pistol to keep her there. The victim ssaid she lost consciousness at some point, waking up as Jarvis was putting tape on her mouth, Tucker said. Her wrists were already taped.

Later that day Jarvis took the victim to a convenience store, sending her in while he stayed in the car. A clerk at the store noticed the tape residue on the victim and told her not to leave the store while she called the Sheriff’s Department. Jarvis left the scene but information about the vehicle was relayed to the department and a search of Jarvis’ home was conducted. That search uncovered a rifle.

Jarvis was arrested Friday using a tip from the community. He was charged with kidnapping and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Tucker said.

A house guest allegedly turned car thief on July 16, when she took her host’s car and wrecked it. As 23 year-old Tiffany Weathersby left the people she was visiting at 198 Entrekin Rd., she took the 1998 Dodge truck parked out front. The owner of the truck attempted to stop Weathersby from taking the truck, but was knocked to the ground as the truck left the driveway, Tucker said. Weathersby wrecked the vehicle a short distance from the home on Matthews Road.

After leaving the scene of the accident, Weathersby walked along the road and was picked up by a deputy. She was taken to Highland Community Hospital for treatment. Weathersby was charged with grand larceny auto, leaving the scene of an accident, no insurance and having a suspended driver’s license.

An attempted burglary and a burglary at the McNeill Car Wash on U.S. 11, lead to the arrest of Eddie Robert Silva, 33, of 22 Ford Ash Circle, Carriere. Silva’s arrest also reportedly resolved another burglary in Carriere.

On July 12 sometime before 8 a.m., someone tried to break into the car wash to get to the change machine. The sheriff’s department had no suspect at that time but the next day at about 6:24 a.m. Silva was seen at the same car wash attempting to break into the change machine.

Apparently the first attempt to pry open the door to get to the rear of the change machine was unsuccessful.

“The second time he went back he was successful,” Tucker said.

As Silva allegedly was attempting to pry open the change machine on the second day, a citizen confronted him and chased him off. Silva was later arrested and charged with attempted commercial burglary and commercial burglary. The investigation points to Silva as being involved in both incidents at the car wash, Tucker said.

Silva’s arrest also lead to the conclusion of investigation into another burglary, this time at the Pearl River Water Association. Sometime between July 9 and 10, Silva is believed to have broken into the water association and where it is believed that he took money from the building, Tucker said. Another burglary charge is expected to be added to his offenses.

Juveniles and some still unidentified suspects allegedly were involved in a malicious mischief event at the Hide-A-Way Lake pool area. Tucker said sometime between July 3 and July 10, several chairs, umbrella stands, trash cans and rest room signs were damaged and thrown into the pool. Two juveniles were arrested. The arrested juveniles will face malicious mischief charges. Two more arrests are expected, Tucker said.

Grand larceny of church property resulted in no charges being filed because the pastor of the church knew the suspects involved. Sometime between July 10 and July 12, an old Coke machine, a large brass bell, about 20 air conditioning vents, nearly 30 metal scaffolding pieces, a push lawn mower and an antique coke box were taken from the Parker Chapel Baptist Church. The bell is described as weighing about 500 pounds and has a value of about $2,000, Tucker said.

Internal components of the coke machine were stripped from the machine and taken to a local scarp yard, along with the other metal objects. An investigation provided the Sheriff’s Department with suspects but once the pastor found out that he knew the suspects involved, he declined to press charges, Tucker said. Instead, a deal was made with the scrap yard that the proceeds from the materials stolen and brought to the scrap yard would be turned over to the church.