A Monroe County man was arrested Friday afternoon at his home on Seymore Road by members of the Monroe County SWAT team and North Mississippi Narcotics Unit (NMNU).
The Sheriff’s Office said that the suspect, John Allen Seymore, has a long history with law enforcement relating drug-related offenses.
Justice Court Judge Brandon Davis set Seymore’s bond at $50,000. However, Seymore has since been released on bond and is reportedly back at home.
Seymore faces multiple charges following this latest arrest, including:
- Trafficking Methamphetamine – Enhanced with a Firearm
- Three Counts of Possession of a Firearm by a Convicted Felon (due to three handguns found near the narcotics)
- One Count of Sale of Methamphetamine
The sheriff’s office said the arrest has sparked frustration among local law enforcement, who have been dealing with Seymore’s illegal activities for nearly two decades. According to a statement from Monroe County law enforcement, three generations of narcotics officers were present during the execution of the warrant on Friday, all of whom have previously arrested Seymore for drug trafficking.
“I was with NMNU when we first executed a search warrant on Seymore and arrested him at his home on Seymore Road almost 20 years ago for distributing methamphetamine,” a statement from the Sheriff’s Office noted.
Seymore was convicted on those charges and has been arrested and convicted on other drug charges related to methamphetamine distribution over the years.
Despite repeated arrests and convictions, Seymore continues to face new charges related to drug trafficking. This ongoing cycle has raised concerns about the effectiveness of the justice system in handling repeat offenders. “It is cases like these that seem to support the fact that the justice system is failing the people of Monroe County,” the Sheriff commented.
The Sheriff’s Office said they are committed to tackling the methamphetamine epidemic in Monroe County, noting that when the current administration took office in 2020, they inherited a significant meth problem.
Estimates suggest that nearly 10,000 of the county’s 36,000 citizens may be using methamphetamine, a statistic that highlights the severity of the issue.
As the investigation into Seymore’s latest arrest continues, local law enforcement is calling for tougher sentences for those making a living by selling drugs to the community. “We have got to get tougher sentences on those who are making their living selling this stuff to our family members,” the Sheriff concluded.
Anyone with information related to drug activity in Monroe County is encouraged to contact local law enforcement.
