WOMAN PLANS TO CONTEST FORFEITURE

A McComb woman said she will contest the forfeiture of money seized by
McComb police in December.

Police filed suit in Pike County Circuit Court in January seeking a judge's
approval of the seizure.

Angela Harris said police seized $19,490 from her purse Dec. 31 after her
husband Paul was charged with aggravated assault and conspiracy. But she
was not charged in the incident and said police don't have a right to the
money.

Mrs. Harris said she and her husband had taken $19,000 out of the bank to
pay for a new house before the end of the year, and she had an additional
$490 to get her truck out of the repair shop.

Paul Harris is out on bond. The Harrises have hired Summit attorney Gus
Sermos to represent them.

"We'll probably be submitting some bank record evidence and some other
evidence to try to convince whatever judge has it to return the money,"
Sermos said.

He noted the forfeiture suit was filed under authority of a drug crime
statute, but Harris was not charged with a drug crime.

Mrs. Harris also said their house at 608 10th St. was burglarized Dec. 29
and her 9mm handgun stolen. She said she identified the thief but no
arrests have been made and the gun hasn't been recovered.

The next night Harris was involved in a shootout and high-speed chase,
which resulted in the charges. He had also been convicted of drug charges
about 10 years ago.

McComb police detective Lenard Cowart said police plan to pursue the
forfeiture.

When Harris was booked, Cowart said police considered charging Mrs. Harris
as an accessory after the fact. "As standard procedure we looked into the
purse to make sure there was not a weapon," Cowart said.

He said he found the money in small bills tightly wrapped in numerous
cellophane bundles stored inside plastic shopping bags.

"She said her husband had given it to her and said hold this," Cowart said.

After Harris' arrest, other law enforcement agencies told police he was
suspected in drug activity, Cowart said.

"That's why we're trying to seize it under that (drug statute)," Cowart said.

He said police also suspected the burglars might have been looking for
drugs or money at the Harrises' house since they stole a gun and jewelry
but little else.