After a full-on investigation into illegal opioids sparked by the recent deaths of three Yazoo County residents, investigators have made an arrest in connection with the dangerous drug. They hope the arrest will get them one step closer to apprehending the individuals supplying the drugs to the community.
Ryan Milner, 26, was charged with possession of paraphernalia, misdemeanor attempted escape and resisting arrest.
Terry Gann, with the Yazoo County Sheriff’s Department, said investigators are taking the cases seriously as they continue to search for potential drug activity in the community.
Gann said his department is also looking to remove many of the drug dealers off the streets. But he admits, it takes time.
“In order to catch these drug dealers, we have to fly so low under the radar,” Gann said. “Since January, we have made three arrests in connection with drugs.”
Gann said Milner was a friend of the three Yazoo County residents who recently died from what is suspected as drug overdoses.
“The three deaths were people who were all friends,” Gann added. “They went to school together, and there was a circle there.”
A concerned parent brought Milner to the attention of deputies.
“We actually went to arrest Milner on a warrant for disturbing the family peace,” Gann said. “Once we got there, he resisted arrest. We then discovered paraphernalia for ingesting heroin in his room.”
After investigators brought Milner in for questioning, Gann said he attempted to escape.
“During questioning, he attempted to escape from the investigator’s office,” Gann said. “He was quickly apprehended before he was able to leave the building.”
Gann said investigators are hitting the ground running when it comes to drugs, particularly fentanyl and heroin.
“We are working on attacking it” he said. “It is mostly with fentanyl and heroin. The fentanyl patches are a dangerous drug, being a powerful prescription pain medicine for cancer patients. They are tearing pieces of the patch off and putting it in their mouths.”
Gann said heroin is also making a comeback in the community.
“We are also finding fentanyl in the heroin, in dangerous levels,” Gann said. “We have had two overdoses in Yazoo County and one overdose in another county who was a Yazoo resident. They were all actually friends.”
Milner remained in jail as of press time.
In an unrelated drug arrest, Malcolm Robinson was charged with possession of marijuana with intent to distribute.
Gann said tips and surveillance footage uncovered a possible operation at Robinson’s Shady Lane home.
“We noticed a lot of traffic coming in and out of his apartment,” Gann said. “Once we confronted him, he admitted to it and allowed us to search his home.”
Deputies found 88.1 grams of marijuana, about $370 worth. They also seized a .45 caliber handgun.
