Picayune Police Narcotics Division seizes large amount of Marijuana after high speed chase
Picayune Police Narcotics Division were conducting proactive patrolling on August 21, 2018, at around 2:00 p.m. when they observed a gold Toyota Corolla run a stop sign as the vehicle was coming up the I-59 Exit 1 ramp at the intersection of Highway 11 South.
Assistant Chief Jeremy Magri said in a press release that detectives activated their blue lights and attempted to conduct a traffic stop for Running a Stop Sign, but the vehicle did not respond and reached a high rate of speed heading north on Highway 11 with the narcotic detectives in pursuit. Detectives observed the suspect’s vehicle almost strike several vehicles and the suspect’s erratic driving and high rate of speed forced other vehicles off the roadway.
According to Magri, the pursuit continued north on Highway 11 until the suspect turned west (left) onto Martin Luther King Blvd, while still traveling at a high rate of speed. The vehicle turned left onto Betsy Drive and at the intersection of Betsy and Jackson Landing Road, the suspect turned right and headed east. The suspect drove his vehicle through several yards and came out on Davis Street and then headed north on Davis Street almost striking several parked vehicles as he continued at a high rate of speed toward Rosa Street, Magri stated.
At Rosa Street, the suspect turned left and then turned left again onto Sherd Street as detectives continued to pursue the suspect at a high rate of speed. The suspect turned right onto Bender Street, then left onto South Beech Street at which time the suspect drove his vehicle through a yard,and came out on Herrin Drive. The suspect then drove east on Herrin Drive and left the road, drove through a yard at a residence and hit a shed that was in the back yard of the residence according to Magri.
The suspect fled on foot and ran in a northerly direction through the woods toward Rosa Street. While chasing the suspect, identified as Malcolm Barnes, age 27, of 823 Herrin Drive, Picayune, MS, aka "Mac Attack", the detectives observed Barnes to have a large clear plastic bag containing a green leafy substance believed to Hydroponic Marijuana in his hands. As Barnes was fleeing, he allegedly tossed the bag containing the Marijuana on the ground at which time it was recovered by the detectives and patrol officers who had joined in the pursuit. Barnes continued running north toward Rosa Street and he was apprehended at the intersection of Rosa Street and Toquet Street by detectives.
Magri stated that during a search of the vehicle driven by Barnes, detectives found a clear plastic bag that contained a green leafy substance believed to be Marijuana and a black digital scale that contained a green leafy substance believed to be Marijuana in the center console.
Barnes was transported to the Criminal Justice Center, where he was booked and incarcerated on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute (two felony counts), Failure to Yield When Officer Signals (felony), Reckless Driving, and Running a Stop Sign.
Magri said the amount of Marijuana seized weighed two pounds and the street value of the Marijuana, described as “Gorilla Glue”, was approximately $10,000.00.