DRUG SUSPECT EXTRADITED FROM FLORIDA

A Picayune man on the run from authorities since July has been
extradited back to Picayune to face drug charges.

Anthony Jerome Perkins, 37, whose last known address was 4736
Mississippi 53, Apt. A, Poplarville arrived Thursday morning at the
Criminal Justice Center flanked by investigators Thursday morning from
Sarasota, Fla., where he had been living with a girlfriend. He will be
charged with two felony counts each of sale of a controlled substance
and an enhanced charge of conspiracy to sell a controlled substance
within 1,500 feet of a church.

Perkins will have a bond hearing this morning.

Perkins was arrested during a traffic stop in Sarasota Sept. 18 after
deputies discovered an outstanding warrant with Picayune Police during
a check on the National Crime Information Center computer. He waived
extradition back to Picayune following his arrest.

Authorities had been looking for Perkins since July when he fled an
arrest warrant issued by police after a four-month investigation into
drug sales from a business.

Police said investigators bought crack cocaine from Perkins at the
business on several occasions and said owners of the business were not
aware Perkins was selling drugs.

"Once they were made aware, they were very cooperative with the
investigators," Maj. David Ervin said.

Police describe Perkins as an "upper-level" dealer who oversaw a group
of four people that sold large amounts of drugs throughout Picayune.
The others in the group have already been arrested, investigators said.

Authorities believe Perkins had been selling drugs for about a year.
"We believe he had been doing it for quite some time, said Joel
Hudson, Commander over the Criminal Investigations Division of the
Picayune Police Department.

Perkins, who has served time in prison for burglary and drug charges,
faces more than 100 years in prison if convicted on all present
charges, investigators said.

Ervin urged any business owners who think they have an employee
selling drugs to call police.

Hudson said drug dealers will continue to be targeted as part of the
department's three-phase drug offensive.

"We want to let the drug dealers know that we gave them two choices
when we announced our drug offensive: Either quit selling drugs or get
out of town," he said.

The offensive, which began last year, focused on education of
elementary students through the D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance
Education) program and placing resource officers in schools, the
apprehension of suspected drug dealers and counseling and assisting
those with drug abuse problems.

Chief Jim Luke said the offensive will not end while drug dealers are
still in the city.

"This is just another example of the Picayune Police Department's hard
work and determination to seek out and cut off the supply of dangerous
drugs into our community," he said. "I've said it before and I'll say
it again, removing drugs from our community is our number one
priority. These suspected drug dealers can run but they can't hide."