Pair arrested on drug charges following stop on Highway 16

A Collinsville man was arrested here on drug charges on Highway 16 West.

The man, Samuel Chase Keely, 41, 9496 West Lauderdale Road, Collinsville, was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia in a 2 a.m. stop on Nov. 16, according to Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark.

Clark said Keely was also wanted by the Mississippi Department of Corrections on drug charges.

Also arrested was a Philadelphia man, Josh Lane Vaughn, 24. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance and. possession of paraphernalia. Clark said Vaughn was also cited with a number of driving infractions.

Deputies first encountered the duo traveling westbound in a silver Mazda pickup truck not far from the Pearl River Resort. Clark said a deputy parked in the median noticed the vehicle was having an issue with its lights.

While interviewing Vaughn, the driver, the deputy noticed the passenger, Keely, was hiding his face and avoiding eye contact with the deputy, according to Clark.

Clark said Vaughn soon accused the passenger of hiding drugs in the backseat of the car.

A search of the car found a bag containing eight to 10 grams of a crystal-like substance believed to be methamphetamine in an eyeglass case in the pocket behind the passenger seat of the car.