Sixth arrested in fentanyl drug ring
A sixth suspect has been arrested in connection with a drug ring conspiring to bring fentanyl into Neshoba County.
Kent Tidwell, 67, 89 Forest Barnes Road, Petal, was arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit a crime related to the fentanyl trafficking, according to Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark.
Neshoba County Detention Center records show he was also wanted on warrants for contempt of court and failure to appear.
Tidwell was arrested in a traffic stop by Nehsoba County Sheriff’s Deputies on Highway 16 East at the city limits on Saturday, Feb. 3, at about 10 a.m.
Clark said the authorities spotted Tidwell on a Flock traffic surveillance camera that alerted shortly before pulling him over.
Clark said Tidwell was bringing fentanyl solution in from Petal and either trading it for other controlled substances or selling it locally through a group in the North Bend community based out of a residence at 10121 Road 2826.
Sheriff’s deputies previously made five arrests connected to that address on Thursday. Those arrests include:
• Carla R. White, 43, 10510 Road 779, charged with possession with intent to distribute.
Clark said following Tidwell’s arrest she has also received a charge of conspiracy to commit a felony related to coordinating bringing the fentanyl solution into Neshoba County.
• Hannah Kaitlyn Eubanks, 28, 8237 Okatibbee Dam Road, Collinsville, was charged with possession of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia. She was out of jail the next day on a $7,500 bond.
• Monica Edwards, 31, 1051 Holland Avenue, was arrested and charged with trafficking a controlled substance and uttering a forgery.
• Richard Chad Cumberland, 45, 10121 Road 2826, was arrested and charged with trafficking of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, two counts of conspiracy to commit a felony, and two counts of possession with intent to distribute.
• Beverly Ann “Sissy” Cumberland, 57, also of 10121 Road 2826, was arrested and charged with trafficking a controlled substance.
Clark said the arrests started when his office acted on a tip about drug activity in the North Bend community.
On Thursday, Feb. 1, Neshoba County Sheriff’s Office deputies received a tip of drug activity at 10121 Road 2826 in the North Bend community.
Deputies began surveillance on the residence and eventually made a traffic stop on a silver Chevy Camaro soon after it left the residence. The traffic stop revealed an active warrant on one of the passengers.
The rear-seat passenger, Hannah Eubanks, was arrested for an active warrant from the city of Philadelphia.
A deputy observed a pink purse where she was sitting and was given consent to search the purse. The search revealed a clear crystal substance believed to be methamphetamine, the authorities said.
At about 5:30 p.m., deputies stopped a white Toyota SUV as it attempted to visit the residence.
The driver, Carla White, was questioned and she revealed that she possessed a vial of liquid fentanyl.
The plan was to trade the liquid fentanyl for methamphetamine, law enforcement officials said.
A search warrant was obtained through Neshoba County Justice Court and executed leading to three arrests.
Beverly Ann “Sissy” Cumberland, Richard Chad Cumberland, and Monica Edwards were arrested and charged with trafficking drugs, according to Clark.
“There has been a lot of traffic in and out of that residence,” Clark said. “Hopefully this will give the people in the North Bend community a sense of normalcy.”
Clark said his office is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation in an ongoing investigation. He said they are currently processing data from eight cell phones seized during the arrests and expect further arrests and charges to follow.
Neshoba County Sheriff’s narcotics investigators serve on the state Attorney General’s Fentanyl Strike Task Force, Clark said.
This is the second fentanyl arrest in just a few weeks involving at least one of the residents, Clark said.
On Jan. 27, Beverly Cumberland was arrested for possession of fentanyl and was out on felony bond for that arrest.
“Tips to law enforcement work,” Clark said.
If you have any information on criminal activity in the Neshoba County and Philadelphia area, call (601) 656-1414 or East Mississippi Crime Stoppers at 1-855-485-8477.