It was a busy weekend for the Clarksdale Police Department and an officer on patrol Monday afternoon found himself able to respond quickly to a drive-by shooting that has resulted in an arrest.
Corporal Alvin Coley was patrolling the area of Choctaw and Spruce about 5:30 p.m. Monday when he heard a large number of gunshots coming from Spruce Street.
Coley radioed for backup and two subjects were detained almost immediately by officers in the 300 block of Cherry Street. One of the subjects had been shot in the right side of the back with the other untouched by gunfire.
Police reports said an automatic pistol and rifle were recovered in the area where the subjects were apprehended.
Police also located a blue Dodge Charger that had been shot several times on the south end of Choctaw Street.
The incident is believed to have started in the 200 block of Spruce Street.
The Clarksdale Police Department has detained a 16-year-old, black male on the charge of Drive-By Shooting.
The man shot was taken by ambulance to a local hospital, stabilized and later taken to a hospital in Memphis.
Assistant Police Chief Norman Starks said in a statement that this is an ongoing investigation and the names and charges of any and all suspects will be released after they have had a preliminary hearing.
Police are asked anyone with information about this incident, or any crime, to call the Clarksdale Police Department at 621-8156, Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or simply dial 911. All calls remain anonymous and cash is paid to those providing information that leads to solving a crime.
A person convicted of a drive-by shooting can face a maximum sentence of 30 year and up to a $10,000 fine. A drive-by shooting is prosecuted as a felony and the vehicle involved can be seized and forfeited.
Friars Point Homicide
A man was reported dead early Tuesday morning in Friars Point of an apparent homicide, but the Coahoma County Sheriff’s Department is mum on the situation.
A 22-year-old black male was found dead of a gunshot wound on Sheriff Ridge Road and authorities were called about 5 a.m.
Emails to Sheriff Charles Jones, Sgt. Will Rooker and the Coahoma County Sheriff’s Department Tuesday morning were not returned by press time Wednesday morning.
Clarksdale was the scene of multiple aggravated assaults over the weekend and it is not known if this homicide was gang related or connected to those events.
Details of this homicide will be reported on pressregister.com when they are made available.
Aggravated Assaults
Clarksdale Police are also investigating three other aggravated assaults
Police received a call from the emergency room at 4:23 p.m. Monday of a man who had come to the hospital with a gunshot wound to the left thigh.
Officers responded and spoke with a black male who gave limited information about the shooting.
Police reports said officers found that the subject was walking in the 900 block of Catalpa Street, heard shots and realized he had been shot.
The incident is still under investigation.
Police responded to Barnes Street at 7:40 p.m. Friday after a black male reported he was walking down Barnes Street, felt his foot burning and discovered he had been shot.
Police reports said the man went to the emergency room where he was treated. Police said there are no suspects at this time.
Police were called to State Street and Lincoln Place and found a black male shot in the back and the arm. The man was taken to the hospital by private vehicle.
Police reports stated the man was walking on Lincoln when a subject began to shoot at him and he was able to return fire after being hit by bullets
Police said the man was in stable condition and Clarksdale Police Department is investigating this incident.
Police were called to the 500 block of Ritchie Street where a black male subject told police another male subject came into his residence got his assault rifle and started shooting at him.
The victim was shot in the thigh area and was taken to the hospital in Memphis for treatment. Clarksdale Police Department is investigating this incident at this time.
Aggravated assault is defined as injury or threat to a person to make them fear for their life or assault with a weapon. It is punishable by up to 20-years in prison and a $10,000 fine. An adult who assaults a juvenile can find the penalty enhanced to 30-years in prison.
Armed Robbery
An officer on patrol was stopped by a woman on Sasse Street who said she had been robbed and police were able to immediately respond to what was later determined to be an armed robbery.
Police reports show the woman flagged down a patrol car at 1:30 p.m. Monday, told police she had been robbed at gunpoint, gave a description of the suspects and their names.
The suspects were seen by other police responding to the scene and spotted within minutes. The suspects also spotted police and ran from police.
A perimeter was set up and the suspects were apprehended without incident or injury.
Police reports said items taken from the woman were recovered. Police reports also said three guns were recovered in the area and are believed to have been discarded by the suspects. One of the guns recovered belonged to the female victim.
Two 17-year-old black males from Clarksdale have been charged with one count each of Armed Robbery and were awaiting their initial appearance in Clarksdale Municipal Court as of Tuesday. Police reports said other charges could be pending and the investigation is on-going.
Police also said they will release the names once the subjects have had their preliminary hearing and formal charges are made.
Police are also investigating two other armed robberies reported over the weekend.
Two individuals told police they were robbed at gunpoint in the 600 block of South State Street with the suspect taking an iPhone, $50 cash, credit cards and the vehicle the two were in. The vehicle was later recovered by police.
The 300 block of School Street was the location given by an individual who said a gun was taken from him at gunpoint by three male subjects who then fled the area.
Armed robbery is a violent felony and is among the most serious crimes in Mississippi.
Armed robbery can carry a stiffer sentence than manslaughter, aggravated DUI causing death, drug trafficking, shootings, and some forms of murder. Armed robbery can carry up to life in prison, served day-for-day, without parole.
A person can be convicted of armed robbery even if he just makes an attempt.
Armed robbery, as the name implies, requires the use of a deadly weapon in the robbery. Examples of deadly weapons can include firearms, knives, baseball bats, bricks, golf clubs, broken bottles, and even automobiles.
Home Burglary
Clarksdale Police are investigating a residential burglary after children’s clothes, women’s medical scrubs and two pair of Air Jordan shoes.
Anyone convicted of breaking and entering a home or inner door of a dwelling whether armed with a deadly weapon or not, and even if at the time the dwelling house is not occupied, with intent to commit a crime, shall be placed in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections for not less than three years nor more than 25 years.
The crime is enhanced if they person has a previous burglary conviction.
Auto Burglaries
• 1800 block of Espy Drive - stolen 22 caliber hand gun from an unlocked vehicle
• 600 block of Martin Luther King Blvd. - nothing was stolen from the vehicle, but entrance was gained and vehicle was ransacked.
• 1000 block of Maple Street - vehicle left unlocked and suspect stole $200 in cash.
Grand Larceny
• 600 block of Garfield Street- On 9-18-2021, vehicle left idling with keys in it and vehicle was stolen, but later recovered the same day.
• 300 block of Third Street- two vehicles were stolen from the area and later recovered by police. Both vehicles were returned to the owner.
A person convicted of grand larceny faces the following felony penalties:
- If the property is valued at $1,000 or more but less than $5,000, the offender faces up to five years in prison and a $10,000 fine. The penalty increases to a ten-year felony sentence if the property is stolen from a place of worship.
- If the property is valued at $5,000 or more but less than $25,000, the offender faces a maximum sentence of ten years' imprisonment and a $10,000 fine.
- If the property is valued at $25,000 or more, the offender faces a 20-year maximum prison sentence and a fine of $10,000.
House shot
Police were called to the 2500 block of Simmons Road Monday morning and reports said a garage and vehicle were shot into during the night or early morning hours. No one injured during this shooting and police are investigating this incident.
Shooting into a dwelling can be deemed aggravated assault, a felony, if prosecutors and judges wish to pursue it.
Shots Fired Calls
The Clarksdale Police Department has responded to the following reports of shots fired:
• Mississippi Street: gun shots reported being fired in the area, nothing found.
• Friars Point Road - gun shots reported but nothing was found
Police are asking residents to call 911 immediately when they hear shots fired in their neighborhood, give a location of where the shot came from and police will respond to the scene and check for evidence.
