Two arrested while trying to steal catalytic converter from occupied vehicle

The Picayune Police Department arrested two suspects who were in the process of stealing a catalytic converter from an occupied vehicle according to a press release from Assistant Police Chief James Bolton.

Bolton’s release states that on April 30th, at approximately 1:15 p.m., officers with the Picayune Police Department were dispatched to I-59 at mile marker 3 in reference to a female caller advising that she was asleep in a U-Haul truck parked on the side of the interstate when someone started doing something to the vehicle. The officers arrived at the location and observed a Hyundai Sonata with a Hancock County license plate parked behind the the U-Haul truck. The officers approached the vehicle and observed a catalytic converter laying on the ground by the passenger side front door according to Bolton.

The officers made contact with the driver of the Sonata, identified as Mark Isaac Condiff, age 42, of 28 Hunter’s Trace, Picayune, and the passenger of the Sonata, identified as Michael Wayne Jones, age 39, of 6308 West Benton Street, of Bay St Louis. The officers removed Condiff and Jones from the vehicle and secured them. Officers observed in plain view several used sawzall blades, two sawzalls, and drug paraphernalia on the front seat area of the vehicle according to Bolton.

Both subjects were arrested.

During the course of the investigation, Bolton said officers located another catalytic converter inside the vehicle as well as a holster, handgun ammunition, and numerous bags of tools. Officers also located a handgun and a black velvet bag containing a large amount of a controlled substance believed to be Crystal Meth in close proximity to the passenger side of the vehicle.

Bolton stated the officers were able to identified that the handgun was reported stolen from New Orleans. Condiff and Jones were transported to the Lenoir-Rowell Criminal Justice Center in Millard where they were booked.

Condiff was charged with Possession of Burglary Tools, Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, Possession of Weapon by Felon, Possession with Intent to Distribute (Crystal Meth), and two counts of Receiving Stolen Property (Felony).

Jones was charged with Possession of Burglary Tools, Conspiracy to Commit a Crime, Possession of Weapon by Felon, Possession with Intent to Distribute (Crystal Meth), and two counts of Receiving Stolen Property, and Malicious Mischief (Felony).