DRUGS DELIVERED WITH SCHOOL SUPPLIES

Cocaine discovered in shipment of food to Ellisville Elementary

ELLISVILLE - Police are investigating the discovery this week of 15 pounds
of cocaine in a shipment of food to an elementary school.

No arrest have been made in the case, police said Friday.

"This shows just how big a drug problem this nation has when this kind of
illegal substance can be delivered to a school," Police Chief Bruce Russell
said. "It's not every day you come across a large amount of cocaine like
this. But to a school?"

Scott Brown, driver of the delivery truck, owned by the Merchants Company of
Hattiesburg, became suspicious while unloading a shipment of food Wednesday
at Ellisville Elementary School.

"The boxes are supposed to weigh 40 pounds each and I'd already unloaded
several of them," Brown said. "But when I lifted this one box, I almost
threw it through the roof of the truck. It was so much lighter than the
rest."

Brown notified cafeteria staff and other school officials.

When Principal Kathy Harrison and other officials arrived, the box was
opened. Inside, they found six square blocks packed tightly and wrapped with
plastic. School officials called police.

"The driver's awareness is to be commended," Russell said. "There were so
many things he could've done but instead he chose to do the right thing."

Jones County Sheriff Larry Dykes said authorities believe the cocaine came
from out of state.

"There is a possibility the sudden discovery of this amount of cocaine is an
accident," Dykes said.

"But it is also a possibility it was destined to come here for some reason.
In that case, someone is looking for it."