Several thousand dollars worth of stolen property was recovered in three cases as part of a joint investigation between the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department and the Mississippi Department of Agriculture and Commerce.
Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department Chief Investigator Marc Ogden said the two departments went to property on Highway 53 on April 7, after receiving information that property reported stolen on Feb. 1 could be on property located at 31 Twin Road. Representatives with the Department of Agriculture assisted the sheriff’s department based on information that stolen property they were looking for in an unrelated case was also at that property, Ogden said.
Det. Chris Robbins along with other representatives of the sheriff’s department responded to 31 Twin Road, owned by Roy Howell, to find several boats, a large amount of tools, motor parts and two vehicles that had all been reported stolen from property in Pearl River County. While the property the Mississippi Department of Agriculture was looking for was not there, evidence was collected that it had been at the Twin Road property at some point, Ogden said.
The find led to 47-year-old Howell being charged with possession of stolen property, Ogden said.
Additional arrests are expected as the investigation continues.
In a separate case involving a residential burglary reported on April 4, Det. Randy Messa was able to identify 22-year-old Billi Davis of Rouse Road as a potential suspect, Ogden said.
Through the course of the investigation Davis’ involvement in the crime was established and several pieces of stolen property recovered during a search of her home, including a television, cell phone, rare coins and jewelry, Ogden said.
During the search the investigators also found some marijuana and discovered that Davis had a warrant out for her arrest for contempt of court. Davis was charged with residential burglary, possession of a controlled substance and contempt of court.
Detectives also worked a commercial burglary reported on March 31, that led to the arrest of 33-year-old Luke Lundy of 6430 Jordan Road and 35-year-old David Chester of 101 Daryl Smith Road, Ogden said.
Detectives Messa and Scott Maillet worked with the Mississippi Agriculture Department to locate stolen items alleged to be on Chester’s property, Ogden said. When they arrived at the property they found a stolen refrigerator, washer and dryer and other household items, Ogden said. Additionally a lawn mower reported stolen from property on Shelton Pearson Road in a separate incident was recovered from Chester’s property, Ogden said.
Both suspects were charged with commercial burglary and conspiracy to commit commercial burglary, Ogden said.