Sardis police, BPD, sheriff nab suspect 3/31/2015

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Sardis police, BPD, sheriff nab suspect


By Rupert Howell
Batesville Police joined Sardis Police and Panola County Sheriff’s Department in a chase Friday that ended about 10:30 p.m. where a suspect was eventually arrested after driving a stolen red Chevy pickup pulling a stolen trailer.

Sardis Police Chief Chris Martin said Monday that his department got word that the suspect was trying to sell a stolen trailer when officer Otis Jones attempted to stop the vehicle in Sardis on Highway 51 at the Pure Oil Station.

The suspect fled headed south on Highway 51 toward Batesville with Jones in pursuit according to Martin who said Batesville officers soon joined in the chase along with Panola County Deputies.

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BPD’s incident report indicated that their agency was contacted that Sardis Police Department was in pursuit of a truck pulling a possible stolen trailer headed south on Highway 51 toward Batesville.

“Officers on duty tried to make it to Hwy. 51 and the Batesville City limits to set up stop sticks to end the pursuit,” according to the report.

The report continued that the truck turned left, prior to where the sticks were being placed, toward Thermos before turning on to Highway 35 headed toward I-55 when other BPD officers caught up with the pursuit.

 Officers pursued north on 35 going under I-55 and soon got the suspect stopped near the entrance of Mississippi Highway Patrol’s District Office, not far from Panola County’s Jail according to Chief Martin.

According to the BPD report, “As the pursuit progressed officers are joined by Panola County Sheriff Officers. As the pursuit gets close to the city limits of Batesville, Lt. Billy Sossoman advises all BPD units to back off once it goes out of the city and allow SPD and county deputies to continue.”

BPD officer Justin Maples’ report states that the chase left the city and as (Batesville) officers begin to pull off of  pursuit, the pickup is stopped “just outside of the city at Highway 35 and Bethlehem Road.”

“BPD officers . . . assist in conducting a felony take down of the single male occupant,” who is taken into custody without further incident according to the report.

“BPD officers clear shortly after the subject is in custody,” Maples’ report states.

According to Panola County Jail log the 38-year-old suspect is Memphis resident Daryl Wessley Terry of 6224 Benjestown Rd. He is being held for Memphis Police Department.

Sardis Chief Martin said he has been charged with possession of stolen property and felony fleeing.