Investigation into a report of stolen property and a report of a burglary led to the arrest of two suspects for drug related charges by the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department.

The first case began on April 17, when deputies were planning to visit the home of 27-year-old Jahnu Spinner, who lives at 15 Abracadabra Lane, in Lumberton, to investigate reports that he was in possession of stolen property, said Sheriff David Allison. Spinner is on probation with the Mississippi Department of Corrections so their officers and sheriff department deputies teamed up to conduct a home inspection, the sheriff said.

During the inspection, deputies didn’t find stolen property, but did find methamphetamine, digital scales, plastic baggies commonly used to package the drug for resale and two firearms, Allison said.

The discovery of the controlled substance and paraphernalia along with the firearms led Spinner to be charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute and two counts of possession of a firearm by a convicted felon, Allison said.

A separate case worked on April 23, began as deputies were conducting a follow up investigation on a residential burglary that occurred near Sycamore Road and was reported that day. Allison said that as the deputies were patrolling the area of Millswood Road they saw a man fitting the description of a possible suspect involved in the burglary walking with a woman.

As the deputy spoke with the man, it was later determined that the man was not involved in the crime, but the deputy noticed the woman, identified as 33-year-old Crystal Easterling of 2205 Millwood Rd., was continuously digging in her purse, Allison said.

The unusual behavior prompted the deputy to ask Easterling if she had anything in her purse, to which she replied, “a pipe,” before quickly changing the subject, Allison said.

Easterling agreed to the deputy’s subsequent request to search her purse where he found a matchbox holding a clear plastic bag containing what tests showed was methamphetamine, Allison said. Easterling was then charged with possession of a controlled substance, Allison said.