Smith County deputies made an arrest on Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at approximately 3:00 a.m. Mr. Ray Little woke up to find his pickup truck had been stolen out of his yard on Highway 28.

The vehicle was located later that evening in an isolated area in Forrest County near Petal severely damaged, which led to the arrest of two more individuals.

The three people who were arrested were Audrey Powell, age 28; Michael A. Wilbur, age 31; and, Charles B. Badger, age 18 all of Lamar County. Each individual was arrested on a charge of grand larceny with bonds set at $35,000 each. MDOC returned the vehicle to Smith County authorities that same evening. Powell and Wilbur are on probation out of Lamar Co. and Badger is on probation for a misdeameanor charge in Lamar County as well.

MDOC and MBI helped in the arrest of the individuals.

Times are changing, when we use to could leave our vehicle doors unlocked and windows down, we can’t do that anymore. Those days are over. This is possibly a gang related incident out of another county, said Sheriff Charlie Crumpton.

Sheriff Crumpton expects that crime will increase in the county due to the budget cuts across the state in other departments such as Mississippi Department of Corrections, State Highway Patrol, and other state entities.

The Smith County Jail is staying full due to probation violations. We will continue to patrol each and every road in the county, but if you suspect any peculiar activity in your area, we urge you to call us at 601-782-4531. Any and all information is greatly appreciated, said Crumpton.