Monticello’s police chief says the brother of a McComb Democratic party official provided false identification when he and two other people were charged with a string of thefts earlier this week.
Police had initially filed charges against Vernell Simmons, 58, of 1009 George Edward Road, along with Elshakethia White, 34, of 120 Gillis Circle in McComb, and Stephen Lamar Heisser, 57, of Jackson. The charges included shoplifting, possession of stolen property, open container in a vehicle, possession of drug paraphernalia and no proof of insurance, the Daily Leader newspaper reported Tuesday.
An article in Friday’s Enterprise-Journal incorrectly reported Simmons’ arrest. Monticello Police Chief David Stanley told the Enterprise-Journal after presstime Thursday evening that Simmons’ brother, Donald Landrew, 55, 126 Oak St., Summit, was the one accused of the crimes and that he provided Simmons’ identification upon arrest.
The Daily Leader reported that managers at Ramey’s Marketplace noticed meat missing from the coolers on March 8. They reviewed surveillance videos and posted one of a man stuffing packages of meat under his shirt and photos of what appears to be the three suspects and their vehicle.
Someone identified the suspects Monday and contacted police, who captured the suspects that afternoon at a traffic stop. Officers found items believed to have been stolen from several stores in the Monticello area, including Ramey’s.
“They had a fresh pile of steak and shrimp,” Stanley told the Daily Leader.
Police allegedly recovered Ramey’s steaks and shrimp worth $126 and $40 as well as $224 worth of tools from Home Hardware, crack pipes and a large bag of clothes from Dollar General with tags still attached.
The three were taken to Lawrence County Jail.
