Police nab 18 in early-morning drug raid

Published 11:31 am Friday, April 24, 2015

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Vicksburg police chief Walter Armstrong, center, and investigator Dewayne Smith, right, escort James “Blue” Jones from his home early Friday morning after being arrested. A joint operation called “Operation Long Time Coming,” spearheaded by VPD and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, culminated in 18 arrests. (Justin Sellers/The Vicksburg Post)

A yearlong investigation by Vicksburg police and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotic led to 18 arrests Friday morning in a police operation dubbed “Operation Long Time Coming.”

The majority of the 18 suspects are considered to be mid-to upper-level drug dealers, Vicksburg Police Chief Walter Armstrong said.

“We’re anticipating at least three more arrests,” Armstrong said.

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Most of the suspects involved in the investigation are believed to be members of the same drug organization, Armstrong said. They are accused of crimes involving sale of crack cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine, he said.

Arrested in the early morning raid that encompassed neighborhoods across Vicksburg were:

Vicksburg police investigator Dewayne Smith, left, and chief Walter Armstrong, right, escort Kourtney Wallace from her home at 323 Bayou Boulevard early Friday morning after being arrested. A joint operation called "Operation Long Time Coming," spearheaded by VPD and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, culminated in 18 arrests. (Justin Sellers/The Vicksburg Post)

Vicksburg police investigator Dewayne Smith, left, and chief Walter Armstrong, right, escort Kourtney Wallace from her home at 323 Bayou Boulevard early Friday morning after being arrested. A joint operation called “Operation Long Time Coming,” spearheaded by VPD and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, culminated in 18 arrests. (Justin Sellers/The Vicksburg Post)

Purell Evans is escorted from his home at 1214 West Magnolia St. early Friday morning by Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace, from left, Vicksburg police Lt. Milton Moore, police chief Walter Armstrong, and investigator John Nguyen. A joint operation called "Operation Long Time Coming," spearheaded by VPD and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, culminated in 18 arrests. (Justin Sellers/The Vicksburg Post)

Purell Evans is escorted from his home at 1214 West Magnolia St. early Friday morning by Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace, from left, Vicksburg police Lt. Milton Moore, police chief Walter Armstrong, and investigator John Nguyen. A joint operation called “Operation Long Time Coming,” spearheaded by VPD and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, culminated in 18 arrests. (Justin Sellers/The Vicksburg Post)

Myron Henderson, center, is escorted by Warren County sheriff's deputy Sam Winchester after being arrested at 110 Eastover Ave., Apt. 2402 Friday morning. A joint operation called "Operation Long Time Coming," spearheaded by VPD and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, culminated in 18 arrests. (Justin Sellers/The Vicksburg Post)

Myron Henderson, center, is escorted by Warren County sheriff’s deputy Sam Winchester after being arrested at 110 Eastover Ave., Apt. 2402 Friday morning. A joint operation called “Operation Long Time Coming,” spearheaded by VPD and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, culminated in 18 arrests. (Justin Sellers/The Vicksburg Post)

Vicksburg police officers talk to Tennesha Burns and Xavier Floyd after being arrested Friday morning at 1900 Baldwin Ferry Road, Apt. 9H. A joint operation called "Operation Long Time Coming," spearheaded by VPD and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, culminated in 18 arrests. (Justin Sellers/The Vicksburg Post)

Vicksburg police officers talk to Tennesha Burns and Xavier Floyd after being arrested Friday morning at 1900 Baldwin Ferry Road, Apt. 9H. A joint operation called “Operation Long Time Coming,” spearheaded by VPD and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, culminated in 18 arrests. (Justin Sellers/The Vicksburg Post)

• Andre Allen, 42, 253 Feld Street; conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance; sale of a controlled substance.

• Tennesha Burns, 23, 1900 Baldwin Ferry Road, Apt. 9H; sale of a controlled substance.

• Brandon Carr, 36, 204 Brookwood Drive; conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

• Purell Evans, 37. 1214 W. Magnolia St.; conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

• Xavier Floyd, 24, 1900 Baldwin Ferry Road, Apt. 9H; sale of a controlled substance.

• James “Blue” Jones, 20, 302 Bayou Blvd., conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

• Antonia “Mane-Mane” Thomas, 32, 610 Martin St.; conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

• Demetrice Harris, 27, 110 Eastover Ave., Apt. 2402; sale of a controlled substance.

• Kimberly Harris, 34, 805 Fourth North St.; sale of a controlled substance.

• Myron Henderson, 30, 1013 Washington Ave., Crystal Springs; conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

• Vick Hudson, 42, 6321 Franklin D. Roosevelt St., Jackson; conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

• Jeremiah H. Rose, 20, 113 Galleny St., possession of crack cocaine.

• Derrick “DT Thomas, 35, 805 Fourth North St.; conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

• Kourtney Wallace, 32, 323 Bayou Blvd., conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

• Keith Walker, 36, 685 Redbone Road, Apt. B; conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

• Tony Wash, 30, 1733 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd,; conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

• Jamaal Williams, 23, 402 Locust St.; conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

• Keith Wilson, 32, 1820 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; conspiracy to distribute a controlled substance.

All 18 were taken to the Warren County Jail, Sheriff Martin Pace said.

VPD, MBN, the Mississippi Highway Safety Patrol, The Drug Enforcement Administration and the Warren County Sheriff’s Office began the raid at about 4 a.m. Friday arresting suspects accused of selling crack cocaine, marijuana and methamphetamine, Armstrong said

Armstrong said the suspects would all appear Tuesday in Warren County Justice Court.