Pair of convicts nabbed for drugs in ‘trap house’

Published 12:00 am Thursday, March 18, 2010

Two Vicksburg drug convicts were arrested again Wednesday on similar offenses.

Jordan Smith Jr., 48, 1310 Bowmar Ave., was arrested at his home along with Derrick Jackson, 32, 1237 W.Magnolia St., Vicksburg police Chief Walter Armstrong said.

Both were charged with possession of cocaine after Vicksburg police and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics found crack cocaine valued at $100, digital scales, night vision goggles, four surveillance monitors in the house and cameras on the outside, including one in a tree, Armstrong said.

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Smith also was charged with sale of cocaine, Armstrong said.

The home, or “trap house,” was reinforced with steel bars and 2-by-4s on the doors, Vicksburg police Sgt. Jeff Merritt said.

“They basically post up here to sell their drugs,” said Merritt. “They have cameras for every angle.”

Smith was convicted of sale of cocaine and sale of marijuana in 1985.

Jackson had been convicted of possession of cocaine in 1996 and possession with intent to sell in 1999 and aggravated assault and possession of a weapon by a felon in 2004, said Brenda Theriot, victims’ rights coordinator at the district attorney’s office.

During Wednesday’s arrest, officials found two pit bull dogs in the house and four in the back yard, Vicksburg police Lt. Bobby Stewart said.

“None of them were scarred,” indicating they had not been used for fighting, Stewart said. “We believe they were used to protect the property.”

Smith was released on a $40,000 bond; Jackson on $10,000.