Clarksdale Police Chief Sandra Williams is making an effort to combat drugs in the city and took steps by setting $500,000 bonds after two alleged shootings.
Matthews Morton Jackson and Dimitric Marceso Kemp, both 21, were charged for involvement in a drive-by shooting, shooting into an occupied dwelling and two counts of shooting into a vehicle for alleged incidents on Monday, Nov. 18 and Tuesday, Nov. 19. Jackson was also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm. He had a probation detainer with the Mississippi Department of Corrections after serving time for another felony.
Municipal Judge Derek Hopson ordered no bond for Jackson and Kemp last week in their initial court appearance and both are being held in the Coahoma County Jail.
Williams explained why she set a significantly higher bond than usual.
“The difference is that they are alleged drug dealers in the city,” she said. “If you are corrupting the city and spreading drugs throughout our community, we take those offenses very seriously.”
She was pleased with Hopson’s decision to keep Kemp and Jackson in jail.
“I think that’s good for the community to not have people in the city that have no regard for human life,” Williams said.
According to a press release from the Clarksdale Police Department, the two alleged shootings were within three hours of one another.
Officers responded to shots fired in the 800 block of Cherry Street at 11:15 p.m. Nov. 18 as a residence and an occupied vehicle had been struck by gunfire, but no injuries were reported.
At 2:30 a.m. Nov. 19, police responded to a second shooting in the 1500 block of Lyon Street as a residence and two vehicles were struck by gunfire. Investigator Titus Hawkins Sr. responded to both incidents and initiated an investigation. Hawkins evidence led him to believe the second shooting was a retaliation shooting from the Cherry Street shooting.
At around 5 a.m. Nov. 19, Hawkins spotted what he believed to be the suspect’s vehicle in the 700 block of South State Street. With the assistance of the patrol division, they stopped the vehicle which was occupied by two males. The passenger was identified as Jackson who allegedly attempted to flee the scene and was apprehended by Hawkins after a short foot pursuit. Kemp was identified as the driver.
“The Clarksdale Police Department is working hard at keeping our streets safe,” Williams said. “The police department did an outstanding job.”
Jackson and Kemp will be back in municipal court for their preliminary hearing.
Going forward, Williams did not shy away from continuing to set high bonds for serious offenses.
“I certainly want the bond to match the seriousness of the offense,” she said.
