Pair arrested with meth

Two Attala County men were arrested on drug charges last month during a safety checkpoint on Highway 19 North at the Pearl River.

Kevin Parks, 33, 23112 Attala Road in Kosciusko, was identified as the driver of a black Ford F-150 and was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, according to Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark.

The passenger, Michael Justin Cox, 37,  6522 Grape Vine St. in Sallis, was also charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia.

Deputies encountered the vehicle at about 3:15 p.m. on May 29 at a checkpoint near the Pearl River boat launch, Clark said. Deputies reported detecting the odor of marijuana coming from the truck.

As Parks opened the driver’s side door to hand over his license, a small plastic bag containing what authorities said was a felony amount of methamphetamine fell from his lap onto the roadway in front of a deputy, Clark said.

Both men denied ownership or knowledge of the drugs and were taken into custody at the scene.