Two Purvis men and a Hattiesburg woman were arrested as burglary suspects by the Lamar County’s Sheriff’s Department after their vehicle crashed into a house during a chase on Sunday night.
The arrests occurred just days after the Hattiesburg Police Department relaunched its “Park Smart” campaign, reminding drivers to lock their cars and hide their valuables to prevent auto burglaries.
Lamar County Sheriff Danny Rigel said Tuesday, July 30, the investigation continues into the incidents.
Lamar County Sheriff Danny Rigel
“They won’t admit it, but we’re still investigating (the burglaries)”, Rigel said. “I do know that Hattiesburg police is going to file charges for felony eluding by the driver.”
The driver, 19-year-old William Howard Hatten, is charged with possession of a controlled substance and two counts of contempt of court.
Passenger Lisa Rena Mitchell, 25, of Hattiesburg was also arrested and charged with felony possession of a controlled substance and disorderly conduct-failure to comply with a law enforcement officer.
The third suspect, a 21-year-old Purvis man, was charged with disorderly conduct-failure to comply with a law enforcement officer, a misdemeanor.
Rigel said the description of the van and a tag number had been relayed to law enforcement officials.
“A Hattiesburg traffic unit spotted the vehicle earlier Sunday, but lost it in traffic,” he said. “The unit again saw it Sunday night, and the driver took off on Ralston Road at Highway 49. The Hattiesburg officers chased them all the way to Lamar County, then the Highway Patrol got in on the pursuit. Hattiesburg backed off the pursuit after we picked it up.”
The Lamar County deputies lost sight of the van, but the driver apparently lost control of the van.
“They ran into a house; they didn’t do much damage, I don’t think,” Rigel said. “They literally ran into a house, and the owner of the house knew (the driver). He called the sheriff’s department, and they jumped back in the car and took off.”
Rigel said the vehicle became disabled, and the deputies found the driver and the female suspect walking down the road and took them into custody.
“They had dope on them and they told us who the third person was,” he said. “We went to a house and he was hiding in a truck.”'
Hattiesburg Police Department released a new series of videos and support graphics for social media in its “Park Smart” campaign.
Last week, the Hattiesburg Police Department released a new series of videos and support graphics for social media in its “Park Smart” campaign that will be used to encourage residents to secure their valuables, take their keys and lock their doors each and every time a vehicle is parked.
Each month, about 80 percent of auto-burglaries occur with unlocked vehicles. These new videos and graphics are additional reminders for Hattiesburg to “Park Smart.” Neighborhood or civic organizations that want to help pass along this message or need materials to share (door hangers, flyers and business cards) can contact Ryan Moore at 601-467-7556 or at rmoore@hattiesburgms.com.