PICAYUNE — An edit to this story on Dec. 9, associates suspect names to the correct charges.



In anticipation of the holiday season, the Picayune Police Department will begin spinning the Drug Enforcement Wheel of Justice twice a week as part of their month long Two for Tuesday arrest effort.

Deputy Chief David Ervin said the purpose of the increased effort, which will involve two wheel spins instead of one on Tuesday, is to reduce crime during the holiday season. Ervin said the holiday season means a time of increased drug activity, both for addiction and recreation. Det. Jeremy Magri hopes the effort will put the dealers behind bars and ensure money that may have been spent on drugs will be spent on more presents for children.

Tuesday’s first spin under the Two for Tuesday effort landed on 27 year-old Charles D. Armbruster and 30 year-old Mark William Harris. Both were found and arrested by Wednesday morning, Ervin said.

Ervin said the Narcotics Division and the Wheel of Justice Strike Team have done a good job picking up suspects who are on the wheel, however there are still six suspects sought by the department. They are Ryan Kaiser, 32, of Picayune, Latoria Smith, 21, of 414 South Haugh Ave.; Robert Earl Smith Jr., 29, of 612 Boler St.; Sylvester McDonald, 33, of 3151 Jackson Landing Rd.; Sara L. Raines, 26, of 105 Pineburr Rd., and Doilana Craft, 23, of 111 Martin St. All are wanted for charges of sale of a controlled substance within 1,500 feet of a school or church.

Information leading to the arrest of any one of these suspects could mean a $500 reward through Crime Stoppers. Information about the suspects can be directed to Crime Stoppers by calling 601-799-2583.

Beyond spins of the wheel of justice, the department is pulling in suspects. According to police reports on Nov. 24, Vickie Darlene Gonse, 54, 321 Clark St., was arrested for arson. Ervin said information gathered in the investigation alleges that Gonse set fire to the kitchen floor of the home, from which she was evicted 30 days before.

A seperate incident involved Amy Tasillo Busby, 42, of 3007 Jackson Landing Rd., who was arrested for two counts of possession of a controlled substance, also on Nov. 24.

Two other notable events took place over the holiday weekend. Ervin said Thanksgiving night at about 10:30 officers were sent to 803 Hunt St. in response to an attempted residential burglary. When the officers arrived, they saw three suspects fleeing the area. Two of the suspects were apprehended and identified as Cruiz James Dugas, 21, of 502 West St., and Demarcus Magee, 21, of 122 Carver Dr. Ervin said both were charged with attempted residential burglary.

The victim of the attempted burglary reported to officers that he saw the suspects attempting to break into his home and called the police. Ervin said the third suspect is still at large and has been identified as Anthony Landor, 19, of 1024 Clover Circle. Anyone with information about his whereabouts should call the Criminal Investigation Division at 601-798-0374 or the Police Department at 601-798-4711.

Another incident just before 1 a.m. that same night sent officers to 2110 Walker St., to deal with a report of aggravated assault and malicious mischief. Upon arrival officers were told by the victim that his 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe had been shot with a gun, causing an excess of $1,500 worth of damage, Ervin said.

Investigation uncovered that the incident began earlier that night when an altercation between the victim and a group of other people occurred at a bar on Cousin Street. That altercation caused the victim to leave the bar. The victim was followed to the location on Walker Street by six people in a car. The altercation continued at that location but the suspects later drove off, but not before firing the bullet that hit the victim’s vehicle, Ervin said.

Six suspects have been arrested: Carlos Gian Nixon, 24, 1300 Sally Dr.; Derrion Pittman, 21, 1309 Nutter Dr.; James Guillotte, 20, 24 Hayes Lane, Lot B; Justin Magee, 24, 1116 Merrydale Dr.; Julian Lott, 23, 702 Charlotte Dr., and James Nixon, 17, of 1007 Martin Luther King Blvd.

All were charged with felonious crimes of malicious mischief and attempted aggravated assault. The weapon used in the alleged shooting has not been recovered.