Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Enforcement Division agents arrested three Mississippi men in Tensas Parish on Feb. 10 for alleged drug and illegal weapon charges. Agents arrested Jovanti Barnes, 22, Natchez, Kanari L. Screws, 23, of Natchez and Marcus Ebenezer Mallett, 27, of Jackson, for possession of cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon. Mallett was also charged with resisting an officer.
During the investigation, Mallet, who provided several false names to agents, was found to be wanted in Mississippi for aggravated assault and murder in Jackson last week.
An LDWF agent apprehended the men after observing them walking away from a stalled vehicle on the side of Hwy. 65 north of St. Joseph. LDWF Sgt. Joe Chandler contacted the men and asked if they needed assistance. The men told Sgt. Chandler they had run out of gas while traveling from Tallulah to Natchez.
Sgt. Chandler transported Barnes to nearby St. Joseph to get fuel. During the trip, Sgt. Chandler smelled the odor of marijuana on Barnes. LDWF Senior Agent Joseph Tarver travelled back to the stalled vehicle with Sgt. Chandler and Barnes.
After finding no drugs on the subjects, the agents received permission to search the stalled vehicle. The agents found cocaine and a loaded semi-auto pistol in the vehicle. All three subjects were arrested and found to have lengthy criminal histories, including armed robbery, grand theft, burglary, carjacking, and drug charges.
The agents transported two of the men while a Tensas Parish Sheriff’s Office Deputy who arrived on scene during the arrest transported another to the Tensas Parish Jail. Mallett is awaiting extradition to Mississippi for the murder charge.
Possession of cocaine brings up to a $5,000 fine and two to five in prison. Illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries a $1,000 to $5,000 fine and 10 to 20 years in prison.
For more information, contact Adam Einck at 225-765-2465 or aeinck@wlf.la.gov.