County officers make arrests in burglaries, shooting


Thursday, July 9, 2009
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County officers make arrests in burglaries, shooting

By SUE WATSON
Staff Writer

Marshall County Sheriff Kenny Dickerson reported the arrest of four suspects on charges of burglary and one arrest for aggravated assault in a shooting in the Laws Hill area.

Wesley A. Underwood, 22, of 9187 Highway 178, Byhalia, and his brother Jessie W. Underwood, 20, of Briarwood Court, Highway 178, Lot 57, Byhalia, and Janis S. Burmeister, 18, of 2586 Deer Creek Road, Byhalia, were arrested early Friday morning of June 26.

Dickerson said the subjects were arrested at the 2586 Deer Creek Road address and charged with burglary. Some items were recovered from a residence at 166 Minton Road, Byhalia, and from a vehicle that belonged to the mother of Janis S. Burmeister, he said.

Wesley A. Underwood is on probation with the Mississippi Department of Corrections (MDOC) and a hold order was issued for the suspect by MDOC. His bond was set at $5,000. He was out on a bond for a previous burglary, Dickerson said.

Jessie W. Underwood is on probation with MDOC and a hold order was placed on him through MDOC, the sheriff said. His bond was set at $5,000.

Burmeister was charged and released on $5,000 bond.

In a separate incident July 3, Joseph Michael Williams, 62, of 2739 Village Green, Memphis, Tenn., was arrested by Collierville police following an automobile accident in which officers found items which looked suspicious in his vehicle, Dickerson said.

Williams is a suspect in the burglary of five homes in the Red Banks and Victoria area July 3, the sheriff said.

One of the victims was home at the time that the suspect was spotted after having kicked in the door of a home, according to the sheriff. The vehicle was described by the victim and she called 911 and a BOLO (Be On Look Out) was issued from the sheriff’s department to surrounding law enforcement agencies.

Later in the day July 3, the suspect was involved in an accident in the Collierville area and Collerville police called the Olive Branch Police Department to ask if any burglaries were reported. Olive Branch PD in turn called Byhalia Police Department to inquire about any burglaries and the Byhalia PD called the sheriff’s department asking about any burglaries, the sheriff said. Good police work resulted in Williams’ arrest and the recovery of numerous items believed to have been taken in the burglaries. The vehicle was also impounded locally.

“We want to thank the Collierville, Olive Branch, and Byhalia police departments for their cooperation in helping us,” Dickerson said. “We appreciate all the assistance we received on this alert and timely police work resulted in this arrest.”

In another unrelated incident, a Hudsonville Road resident was arrested June 12 and charged with aggravated assault in the shooting of a Hardin Road resident.

A call was received by 911 at the Hardin Road residence stating that Gideon Ngah had been shot in the face by the suspect, James Arthur Peterson, 54, of 375 Hudsonville Road.

Dickerson said when officers arrived at the Hardin Road residence, Peterson was seen standing on the porch with the 30-30 rifle in his hand. Peterson was taken into custody without incident.

The victim was transported to Highway 4 and Laws Hill Road where he was picked up by Wings and transported to the Memphis Med. Peterson remained in jail Monday on $70,000 bond.

Dickerson asked the public to report any suspicious activity to Marshall County Crime Stoppers at 1-800-729-2169 or call the Marshall County Sheriff's Department at 662-252-1311 to provide tips that may help law officers solve crimes. All tips are kept strictly confidential.

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