After a team of firefighters responded to an unattended pot of hot dogs on the stove, police officers executed a search warrant that led to a major drug bust.
An alleged drug dealer was chased by officers while throwing his "merchandise" all over the neighborhood.
And one white visible pill led to another drug arrest after the suspect was found with a needle and crystal methamphetamine in his parked car behind a business.
It was a busy weekend for criminal activity in Yazoo City. But arrests were made in these cases by the Yazoo City Police Department as part of their effort to be more proactive in removing drugs off the streets of the community.
"This is a direct result of proactive policing," said Capt. William Nevels, with the Yazoo City Police Department. "We are not waiting, but we are rather aggressively being proactive in getting these drugs and offenders off the streets. We have a lot of deaths, overdoses and hospitalizations due to controlled substances lately. This is our response."
Chief Jay Winstead applauds his department’s day Alpha Shift for their detailed policing and investigations into these recent drug arrests. Headed by Sgt. Demarcus Peeples, Winstead said he is extremely proud of their recent proactive efforts.
“This shift took the initiative to be proactive in these cases,” Winstead said. “For example, one traffic stop led to them pursuing a search warrant, which removed a large number of drugs off our streets.”
Search Warrant Leads to Major Drug Bust
Jabarri Fisher was charged with two counts of felony possession of marijuana with intent to distribute, three counts of felony possession of Schedule II controlled substance with intent to distribute, including an enhancement of those charges due to a possession of a firearm.
Nevels said a traffic stop on Calhoun Avenue first sparked the investigation. Marijuana and a firearm were discovered in Fisher's vehicle by officers during that traffic stop, which led to investigators to pursue acquiring a search warrant into a home a Ninth Street.
While waiting to secure the search warrant, the city fire department first responded to the home due a fire call in reference to a pot of unattended hot dogs left on the stove. Moments later, the search warrant led to a multitude of drugs being found inside the home.
Nevels said under three pounds of marijuana, 586 Hydrocodone and Oxycodone pills, 70 pills of Adderall, $3,500 in cash, scales, small bags and a firearm were recovered by officers.
Drugs Recovered During Chase
Vernon Tables was charged with felony possession of a controlled substance. Felony evading could also be added to his list of charges.
Nevels said a safety checkpoint was being conducted at Streamline and Bridge Streets.
"A black Altima approached the checkpoint but turned around to avoid it," Nevels said. "Officers soon gave chase with the suspect refusing to stop. Tables then fled on foot, and officers saw him throwing items during the chase."
Tables was soon apprehended by officers and was found with 21 grams of crack cocaine and a misdemeanor amount of marijuana.
Parked Car Draws Suspicion
Jerel Ray Wilkerson was charged with possession of a controlled substance after his parked vehicle was approached by an officer.
Wilkerson was sitting in his parked car behind Gateway Express when an officer stopped to check on him.
"The officer noticed a white pill in plain view," Nevels said. "The suspect was then found with a needle and a few grams of crystal meth."