727 Beulah Ave. ~ P.O. Box 72

Tylertown, Mississippi  39667

Since 1907

To contact us:

Phone: 601-876-5111
Fax: 601-876-5280
Email: tylertowntimes@bellsouth.net / ttimes2000@yahoo.com

HOME | POLICE/SHERIFF | OBITUARIES | CHURCH | SPORTS | GIFTS | MEDIA INFO | PRINTING

Local Links:

 

Walthall County

Chamber of Commerce

 

Town of Tylertown

Meth is an area, state epidemic

A Lawrence County duo, three countians arrested in South Walthall, another countian charged this week in connection with the earlier South Walthall arrest, all have something in common.

Methamphetamine.

It’s becoming an epidemic, local law officers say.

The above activity occurred in Walthall (or just over the Walthall-Lawrence line) since February.

There’s likely more coming.

The two Jayess residents arrested in Lawrence County were George D. Hewitt, 50, and Kathy Pounds, 47. They were charged after Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and Lawrence County Sheriff’s officers searched a home at 5 Hewitt Circle about a month ago. Pounds’ address is listed as South Sandifer Street, Tylertown. Local officials say Pounds moved from that address some time ago. It has since been sold and converted to a day care.

And last month three people were arrested near the Louisiana line for manufacture of methamphetamine. Their labs, also a shake and bake variety, were similar to those seized in Lawrence County. Two juveniles were forced to spend the night in a tent in subfreezing weather while the three adults cooked off the meth in a house and trailer.

Derrick S. Merrill, 36, Praireville, La.; Adam Brumfield, 36, 138 Edgar Holmes Road; and Bryan Brock, 32, 67 Walt Brock Road, were charged with manufacturing meth, possession of precursors, possession of meth and felony child abuse.

Last week, Carolyn Ann Jenkins, 54, 51 Walt Brock Road, was charged with possession of precursors with intent to manufacture methamphetamine and conspiracy to manufacture methamphetamine. Jenkins, the mother of Bryan Brock, lived in one of the residences where meth was being cooked. Officials said she had no knowledge of the two youngsters spending the night in a tent the night before while meth was being cooked at a neighboring residence, so she was not charged with child abuse, only the drug charges.

That brings to six the total number of people arrested for manufacturing meth in the Walthall County area over a two month span.

Until recently, meth has been known primarily as a “white” drug, as it is used and made primarily by caucasians.

But that trend is changing.

The MBN says more and more African Americans are beginning to use and distribute the drug.

Users run the age gamut, from teens to 50-60 year old adults.

It’s been called the poor man’s crack cocaine because it’s cheap and easy to make.

The downside is the destructive effects of the drug, and a variety of health problems that can even affect short-term users.

Law officers say the drug is wielding corrosive effects on the state’s citizens. That statement is probably more prophetic than they realize.

The drug is, in itself, a corrosive. Many of the precursors, the materials used to make meth, are corrosive: anhydrous ammonia, a fertilizer; lantern fuel, starter fluid, lithium batteries, lye and drain cleaners.

Last year there were 620 seizures of meth labs in the state, over twice those of 2008.

"I believe it's an epidemic," said Marshall Fisher, director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. "It's such a problem, we couldn't avoid it if we wanted to."

The MBN arrested 981 people for meth in 2009, out of some 3,000 total arrests. Meth users snort, smoke, swallow or inject meth to get high, while others will take it to lose weight.

"We realized that for the first time in Mississippi, we had more meth arrests than crack cocaine and cocaine powder combined," Fisher said.

 

Bond revoked for former resident

Bond for a former Tylertown man has been revoked by a federal judge in Hattiesburg.

Stanley McLain, listed as Warren S. McLain in the Hattiesburg American, had his bond revoked last week by U.S. District Judge Keith Starrett after testing positive for methamphetamine.

McLain, a former Hattiesburg postal worker, had been free on bond while awaiting sentencing Mar. 31 after pleading guilty in December 2009 to stealing medications being mailed to veterans. The plea stemmed from a January 2008 incident.

 

Tylertown woman

charged in connection with triple murder

A Tylertown woman is being held in connection with a Hattiesburg triple murder Feb. 22.

Chekeita L. Pittman, 29, of Tylertown, and Deveivn Tripp, 20, of McComb, have both been charged with accessory after the fact in the deaths.

Both are being held in the Forrest County Regional Jail under $500,000 bonds each.

Gregory Eugene Mootye, 21, was charged with two counts of murder in connection with the deaths of Alesia Twillie, 49, and her pregnant daughter, Anjelica Twillie, 26. The unborn son died as the result of the death of his mother.

The women died after suffering numerous gunshot and stab wounds at their Dabbs Street residence.

The Hattiesburg American reported the relatives saying Mootye was the father of Twillie’s unborn child.

 

Break-ins, dumping top offense reports

Break-ins and dumping of dead animals made up a portion of the sheriff’s offense file.

Gwen Holmes, 739 Hwy. 27 North, reported an attempted break-in. He said he received a call from his son, Jason, who interrupted a burglary in progress. It appeared the suspect had attempted to load two boys bicycles onto a truck.

Jewlaska Walker, 150 Dillon Hill Road, said he discovered two dead black and white dairy cows dumped on the side of the road.

Benjamin Martin, 09 Willie Grindle Road, said his wallet is either lost or stolen. He said the brown wallet contained a voter registration card, identification and $60 cash.

A theft was reported at the residence of James Rivero, 312 Rushington Road. According to the offense report someone attempted to open a safe in the bedroom closet but was unsuccessful.

Inside this issue: