Canton couple arrested headed to casino with crack cocaine

A man and woman from Canton were arrested on alleged drug charges near the casinos after Sheriff’s deputies spotted the car they were in driving erratically.

They have been identified as 53-year-old Michael Smith and 44-year-old Melinda Jackson, arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana in a vehicle and possession of paraphernalia, according to Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark.

Smith also had a warrant with the Mississippi Department of Corrections related to the sale of crack cocaine, Clark said.

Deputies encountered the pair traveling eastbound on Highway 16 on Saturday, Nov. 4, at about 1 a.m. Clark said deputies saw a vehicle driven by Smith moving erratically and pulled it over as the driver attempted to turn into one of the casino parking lots.

Deputies quickly determined that Smith had no license and had a MDOC warrant for his arrest. As deputies were taking Smith into custody, they noticed a small baggie of marijuana on the floor in the backseat of the vehicle. A further search found a small cylinder containing a rock of crack cocaine, Clark said.

Jackson had paraphernalia on her person, Clark said, and Smith said he had smoked crack earlier that evening.