Deputies answer calls ranging from burning to bombing

By Ashley Crutcher
Investigator Terry Smith responded to a fire at the corner of Cherry and Warren Street on September 29.
Upon arrival Investigator Smith spoke with fire personnel who stated the property belonged to the church across the street.
According to the report, church officials wanted the fire department to burn the home on the property for them, but the fire department  was unable to burn the home due to asbestos, which is a heat-resistant mineral.
The report states one church official was working on tearing the home down when it burned. The home had no power as no one has lived in the home for a long time.
“I am glad someone did the work for me in destroying the building,” said one church official.According to the report, the home was an “eyesore” for the church.
According to Investigator Smith it is clear someone intentionally set the fire and further investigation revealed no insurance was involved.
Days earlier on September 26 Deputy Bill Furniss conducted a traffic stop on Highway 6 West after noticing a silver Maxima with no tag weaving in and out of oncoming traffic.
According to the report, while approaching the vehicle, Deputy Furniss noticed the passenger and driver push something between the seats which appeared to be two scull face masks.
After the driver reported having no driver’s license, he retrieved his vehicle registration from the glove box.
Deputy Furniss noticed a pill bottle with a metal pipe stemming from the top with wires sticking out on the passenger side floor, according to the report.
The occupants of the vehicle were detained and one passenger stated the driver was going to his ex-girlfriend’s house in Oxford to blow something up, according to the report.
Deputy Jeremy Hailey arrived on the scene  to assist Deputy Furniss  as he checked the vehicle. According to the report, another pill bottle, with the name of the owner torn off, was located in a compartment containing a few pills in it.
Investigator Smith and Deputy Britton Crawford were notified of the situation and responded to the scene along with Deputy Crawford’s K9.
Deputy Crawford took the explosive devise into evidence. Another pill bottle containing a grey unknown substance was found in the console, according to the report.
The driver was arrested and charged with reckless driving and possession of a controlled substance and the passengers were also arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance.
According to the report, all three individuals had a hold placed on them for further investigation.
The Panola County Sheriff’s Department received 29 calls for service from September 22 to September 30.

September 22
• The Sheriff’s Office received a call regarding a group of subjects riding motorcycles and driving recklessly in the area of Sardis Lake Drive and Cole’s Point.
Deputy Mark Allen received another call from individuals at Pat’s Bluff boat ramp stating the motorcyclists were at the boat ramp and there was possibly going to be a fight.
According to the report, Deputy Allen and Deputy Emily Griffin were in route to the area when  five motorcycles passed them traveling at a high rate of speed.
The Deputies turned around and attempted to stop the motorcyclists but they continued driving at a high rate of speed, according to the report. Deputy Griffin notified Dispatch of the motorcyclist’s failure to stop.
Some motorcyclists began to slow down and pull to the side of the road as Deputy Griffin chased after the other motorcyclists.
Deputy Steven McLarty and Deputy Maurice Market advised they were close to the area and were advised by Deputy Griffin to block the road in order to stop the fleeing motorcyclists.
According to the report, when Deputy Griffin arrived to the location of Deputy McLarty and Deputy Market she observed the motorcyclists stopped and the leader of the group was being taken off of his motorcycle and placed in cuffs.
The motorcyclists that Deputy Griffin passed arrived at the location. According to the report, Deputy Griffin explained the road was blocked because they refused to stop.
Deputy McLarty explained the leader was being detained for failing to comply with a lawful order after he was asked to get off of his motorcycle.
Deputy Allen and Deputy Griffin ran all driver’s licenses and motorcycle tags which came back clear.
According to the report, the motorcyclists were issued a warning ticket for reckless driving and were allowed to leave.
September 23
• Vassar Road, Pope resident reported a burglary to Deputy Jeremy Hailey. The resident stated she was missing a 32” TV approximately worth $256.
September 24
• Tubbs Road resident reported to Lieutenant Chuck Tucker her vehicle was parked at a Eureka Road residence when it was damaged.
According to the report, the resident left her car at the residence and upon returning noticed her passenger side front fender was bent.
• Pope – Water Valley Road resident reported the neighbor’s pit bull came into her yard and attacked her chihuahua causing it’s death.
According to the report, the neighbor paid the vet bill but the resident is worried the dog may attack her 14-month-old daughter.
The neighbor has put the dog in an enclosed pen and also chained the dog in the pen to keep it from leaving his yard and attacking any other dogs, according to the report.

September 25
• Deputy Market responded to a domestic disturbance call where an individual stated his wife threatened to do bodily harm to him and chased him with a knife.

September 26
•  Deputy McLarty spoke to a Mallard Pointe Road resident who stated an individual came over and spent the night.
According to the report, the next morning the resident caught the individual in his son’s room and demanded she leave.
The resident stated he later discoverd $20, a bottle of perfume and a phone charger missing.
• Dogwood Heights resident reported someone stole his utility trailer from a residence on Farish Gravel Road.

September 27
• Como resident reported a coworker came to his residence on Sunday, September 25, and told him that he would not press charges on him for an altercation that took place on the University of Mississippi campus if the resident gave him $700.
According to the report, the resident stated he didn’t have any money.
On monday the resident was arrested and charged with simple assault by the University Police Department.
• Deputy Crawford responded to Sander’s Road for a death investigation.
According to the report, family members reported the resident has had a stroke before and works a lot. Investigator Smith was notified of the incident.
• Deputy Crawford spoke to a Bishop Road, Crenshaw resident who reported $3,639 worth of property was taken from his driveway including a mower, chainsaw and weedeater.
• Pleasant Grove Road, Crenshaw resident reported to Deputy Crawford her cousin attempted to strike her with a vehicle.
According to the report, the resident’s mother testified to the incident and stated there were children in the yard including a 1- and  an 11-year-old.
According to Deputy Crawford, upon attempting to speak with the suspect Deputy Crawford was immediately met with aggression.
The suspect was taken into custody for disorderly conduct, failure to comply.

September 28
• Investigator Smith was called to a fire on Chyna Road where the resident stated she and her husband left to stay in Tunica and she had some clothes in the dryer but she thought she turned it off before she left.
According to the report, the resident returned home today to discover the dryer had caught fire, causing damage to the dryer and leaving a bad smell and light greasy film on the floors.
Investigation revealed the
Samsung dryer caught fire and burned itself out after a short period of time.
• Vassar Road resident reported to Deputy Market some time between 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. an unknown subject entered her residence.
•Lieutenant Chuck Tucker spoke to a Club road resident who stated he noticed his truck was shaking.
According to the report, the resident took his truck to Goodyear to have it check and was told the lug nuts were loose on both front wheels.
• Deputy Lee Martin was dispatched to a Courtland residence for a family disturbance.
According to the report, an individual was filling out an application during an argument with the suspect which became physical as the suspect began throwing things at her.
The individual stated she used the pen to keep the suspect away from her.
The suspect was placed under arrest and transported to Merit Health by Medstat for a cut on his arm and chest and then was taken to the Panola County Detention Center and charged with disturbance of a family.
• Hernando resident reported to Deputy Hailey she was giving an indivdiual a ride to her sister’s house from Happy Days Motel.

According to the report, upon arrival the individual and sister began to fight and the sister stated she needed to leave.
The resident stated the individual got back in the car and they left. The resident stated the individual asked her to stop stating she would walk.
According to the report, the individual got out of the car and threw a handful of rocks, breaking the front passenger side window.
September 29
• Baptist Memorial, Oxford reported to Investigator Smith the abuse of a vulnerable adult after the doctor noticed bruising on the victim’s arm.
The victim stated he did not want to press charges and that he only wants the suspect to be nice to him because he needs the suspect to help take care of him.

September 30
• Lieutenant Darius Smith was dispatched to Highway 315 South in reference to suspicious activity.
According to the report, the resident who has only been living at the residence since July noticed the statue on her front porch was broken.

Motor Vehicle Accident Report
September 22
• Car hit a deer on Old Panola Road.
September 25
• Car hit a deer on Highway 35.
• Driver under the influence had an accident on Highway 310 East.
• Two car accident occured on Hunter Chapel Road.
September 26
• Car caught on fire on Chapel Town Road.
September 29
• Car hit a deer on JQ West Road.

Juvenile Offense report
September 25, 17-year-old arrested for disorderly conduct on Highway 51.
September 28, 17-year-old was found in possession of an explicit video at South Panola High School.
September 29, 16-year-old arrested for disorderly conduct at North Panola High School.