Driver busted for ice, crack, cocaine after high-speed chase with MHP

Published 2:27 pm Tuesday, December 8, 2015

A Mississippi Highway Patrol license checkpoint on Highway 51 turned into a high-speed chase and drug bust Monday afternoon.

Cpl. Brandon Fortenberry, spokesperson for MHP Troop M, said a subject driving a tan Ford Expedition was traveling south when he came to the roadblock just north of Bogue Chitto at about 3 p.m. Troopers smelled marijuana coming from the vehicle and asked the man to pull to the side.

Fortenberry said the man continued southbound on Highway 51, leading the troopers in a chase to Bogue Chitto Road and then onto I-55 southbound around the 30-mile marker. Fortenberry said MHP attempted to throw stop sticks (sticks with nails that puncture tires to induce a safe, gradual stop) at the 25-mile marker but the subject was able to dodge them.

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The subject continued south into the McComb city limits and at the 17-mile marker a second set of stop sticks made contact with the front two tires. The vehicle traveled about a mile more before coming to a stop in the middle of the interstate and the subject was detained. Troopers confiscated 3.34 grams of ice, 38.5 grams of crack cocaine and 6.5 grams of powder cocaine. Ice is a street term for methamphetamines in its purest and most potent form.

Jerrell Powell, 27, of 1130 Old Brook Road, was arrested on the following charges: DUI other substance, possession of a controlled substance/possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance/possession of methamphetamine with intent to distribute, possession of a controlled substance, driving while license suspended, no proof of liability insurance, felony fleeing law enforcement, failure to comply with request and probation violation.