Fleeing vehicle crashed into parked truck; two apprehended

Published 5:13 pm Saturday, September 22, 2018

 

Two Warren County men face drug charges following their arrest Friday afternoon after a chase that ended when the car they were in struck a parked utility truck at the intersection of Indiana Avenue and Lee Road.

Vicksburg police Lt. Johnnie Edwards said Keithan Ward, 20, 146 Smith Place, and Jetherell Drayton, 19, 7699 Halls Ferry Road, face charges of possession of cocaine, adding more charges are pending in the case.

Email newsletter signup

Sign up for The Vicksburg Post's free newsletters

Check which newsletters you would like to receive
  • Vicksburg News: Sent daily at 5 am
  • Vicksburg Sports: Sent daily at 10 am
  • Vicksburg Living: Sent on 15th of each month

They are being held without bail in the Issaquena County Corrections Facility pending an initial appearance Monday in Vicksburg Municipal Court.

Ward is out on bond on a burglary charge following a grand jury indictment in May. Drayton, Edwards said, is on probation for a 2015 armed robbery that occurred when he was 16. He was certified as an adult after his arrest.

The chase occurred about noon Friday when Drayton was driving on Porters Chapel Road at a high rate of speed and came behind a car driven by deputy police chief Eric Paymon. Drayton passed Paymon, almost forcing him off the road. When Paymon turned on his blue lights, Drayton attempted to elude him.

The chase went from Porters Chapel to Indiana Avenue, ending at Lee Road when Drayton attempted to make a right turn, lost control of the car and struck a utility truck owned by DTM Services of Arkansas that was parked on the right shoulder of the road.

Ward and Drayton got out of the car and fled on foot. Ward was arrested by Paymon and Warren County Constable Glen McKay. Drayton fled into a nearby wooded area and was later arrested on Oakwood Drive by deputy Zach Primeaux.

The two DTM employees, Sean Henley, 49, 399 Mount Alban Road, and Anthony Henderson of Hensley, Arkansas, were out of the truck when it was hit. They were examined by Vicksburg Fire Department paramedics but did not go to the hospital. Henley, however, was arrested on a Mississippi Department of Corrections warrant charging him with probation violation. The warrant was discovered during a records check for the police report on the wreck.

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

email author More by John