Prentiss County department
makes dog fighting bust
Published Wednesday, April 16
By Jebb Johnston
Staff Writer

BOONEVILLE -- Prentiss County officials raided a pit bulldog fight where money was on the line Saturday night, leading to felony charges against 19 from Prentiss County and surrounding areas.

The execution of a search warrant at the 49 CR 3161 residence of Jamie Trimble in the Hills Chapel area paid off for investigators as they caught the dog fight in progress.

"This is something we had been investigating for three or four months," said Derrik Pruit, chief deputy with the Prentiss County Sheriff's Department.

"I'm sad to say that it didn't initiate over the dog fighting. It initiated
over other crimes that led up to this."

Deputies seized four pit bulldogs; $10,000 cash; a four-wheeler; several vehicles; a firearm; and equipment related to dog fighting. Charges against the participants range from being a spectator at a dog fight to organizing a dog fight, both of which are felonies.

The investigation continues, and additional arrests are anticipated.

"The fighting pit for the operation was a well-built 20 by 20 feet portable device that could be moved to other locations," said Investigator Brian Taylor. "The fight being held was well-organized and brought people from surrounding counties in to watch."

The portable fighting pit included good lighting, said Pruit.

It is the second dog fighting operation uncovered in the county in eight years, he said.

Bond was set at $10,000 for Trimble and $5,000 for each of the others. Some of those arrested were on probation or parole from the Mississippi Department of Corrections.

The Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics and Booneville's narcotics investigator were also involved in the search.

The sheriff's department identified the others who were charged as the following:

- Bart Trimble, 17, of 18B CR 1121, Booneville
- Bedford Lynn Hargett, 23, of 111 CR 7081, Booneville
- Bobby J. Elliott, 35, of 436 CR 136, Okolona
- Brittany Grizzard, 21, of 65 CR 8200, Rienzi
- Cody Cummings, 20, of 46 CR 1120, Booneville
- Corey R. Cole, 25, of 1512 Fifth Street, Meridian
- Earl Newby, 39, of 71 CR 210, Walnut
- James L. Taylor, 31, of 103 West Over, Booneville
- Jason Haley, 30, of 300 Jacinto Heights, Booneville
- John Kevin Coker, 38, of 121 Hwy. 45, Shannon
- Keith Johnson, 40, of 132 CR 301, Shannon
- Kenneth Stafford, 60, of 1045 CR 41, Etta
- Larry McCaine, 40, of 1043 CR 41, Etta
- Robert Edmond Jr., 31, of 106 Cedar Street, Booneville
- Stacey Johnson, 35, of 128 CR 301, Shannon
- Tommie Renae Smith, 29, of 380 CR 1101, Booneville
- Tommy L. Gray, 41, of Corinth
- Willie George Shumpert, 25, of 1306 MLK Drive, Booneville

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