TWO CHARGED IN KICKOFF OF MAJOR DRUG CRACKDOWN

Local authorities arrested two suspects on drug trafficking charges and are
seeking a third in what they have deemed as the beginning of a major
county-wide crackdown on illegal narcotics.

In a joint operation Tuesday night, Oktibbeha County sheriff's deputies,
working with Starkville police officers, Tri-County Narcotics Task Force
Agents and Mississippi Department of Corrections officers, arrested Sharon
Jordan, 20, of 309 Santa Anita Drive, and Leonard "Cuz" Young, 51, of 3335
Peppermill Drive, on individual charges of possession of crack cocaine with
intent to distribute and conspiracy to sell crack cocaine.

Both Jordan and Young were still being held in the Oktibbeha County Jail
Thursday afternoon on individual $25,000 bonds.

The arrests stemmed from information provided by an undercover informant
about drug sales occurring at Jordan's home, said deputies Tommy Whitfield
and Shank Phelps. Several hundred dollars' worth of crack cocaine was also
seized in the bust, they said.

"We were able to confirm information that drugs were being sold from that
residence and executed a search warrant," Whitfield said.

Another suspect, Napoleon "Country" Brooks, 31, of 1547 Chapel Hill, is
actively being sought in connection with the Tuesday night bust that saw
the arrests of Jordan and Young, Phelps said.

Brooks is wanted on a charge of conspiracy to sell crack cocaine.

He was last seen near Jordan's home Tuesday night and is known to have a
home in the Crawford area, Phelps said.

The arrests Tuesday night are the beginning of a renewed push against
narcotics trafficking across the county, Phelps and Whitfield said.

"If this were a football game, this would be the kickoff into the first
quarter," Phelps said.

"We're looking to make a big change in this community."

Numerous complaints from residents about drug dealing in the city and
county have prompted the Police and Sheriff's Departments, Tri-County, the
Department of Corrections and the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics to
undertake this effort, they said.

"If any citizen knows a drug dealer or pusher or a drug user, we encourage
them to call the Sheriff's Department or any law enforcement agency in the
county or Crime Stoppers and report them," Whitfield said.

"We're going to do our best to get rid of drugs in Starkville, Oktibbeha
County and at Mississippi State University."

Anyone with information about drug trafficking can contact the Starkville
Police Department at 323-4134, the Oktibbeha County Sheriff's Department at
323-2421, the Tri-County Narcotics Task Force at 324-8484, the Mississippi
Bureau of Narcotics at 323-3082 or Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at
1-800-530-7151.

All tips given to Crime Stoppers are confidential and could result in a
reward of up to $1,000 for the caller if the tip leads to the arrest and
conviction of a suspect in a felony crime.