Cooperation with LPD, Sheriff, WCCRCF and Leake County Officials Result in Contraband Arrest

L to R: LPD - Donnie Graham, WCCRCF Warden Neal Higgason,
LPD Patrol Officer Toby Lee, LPD - Barry McWhirter with contraband
from traffic stop

On Wednesday morning (July 29) around 8 a.m., the Louisville Police Department received a request from the Leake County Sheriff's Office concerning a BOLO (be on look out) for a green Ford Escape. It was believed that the vehicle's occupants were wanted concerning lack of payment for a gas purchase in Leake County.


Louisville Police officer Toby Lee stopped a vehicle on the bypass in Louisville that morning and after investigation held the vehicle and its occupants for Leake County officials. Further investigation led to more officers on the scene. LPD found contraband in the vehicle including tobacco, lighters, cell phones and chargers and a controlled substance packaged in a suspicious manner. Pipes and prescription drugs that did not belong to the occupants of the vehicle were also recovered.

Interviews with the occupants, who are not from Winston County, revealed that the items may have been intended as illegal contraband to the Winston Choctaw County Regional Correctional Facility(WCCRCF). Working with the Warden of the WCCRCF, Louisville PD filed charges against the driver for possession of a controlled substance and the Winston County Sheriff's Office charged the other occupants of the vehicle with conspiracy to introduce contraband to a correctional facility.

LPD officer Barry McWhirter noted the importance of the cooperation between Leake County, the Louisville Police Department and the Winston County Sheriff's Department in the arrests.

The individuals involved are currently in custody at WCCRCF awaiting hearing.