A Thursday evening traffic stop on September 18, led to the arrest of a driver on West Union Road after a Pearl River County deputy reported signs of impairment and recovered suspected methamphetamine, according to the sheriff’s office.
Deputy Hunter Martin pulled over a vehicle with no license plate and identified the driver as Richard Tate.
During the stop, Tate allegedly dropped a bag containing a substance believed to be methamphetamine. When confronted, officials say he tried to run and then attempted to destroy the evidence by placing the bag and contents in his mouth. Deputy Martin intervened and, after a brief struggle, took Tate into custody. The vehicle was towed from the scene.
Tate was booked into the Lenoir Rowell Criminal Justice Center on the following charges:
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Driving Under the Influence (63-11-30)
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Tampering with Physical Evidence (97-9-125)
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Possession of Paraphernalia (41-29-139)
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Resisting Arrest (97-9-73)
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Disorderly Conduct – Failure to Comply (97-35-7)
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No License Plate (27-19-31)
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No Insurance (63-15-4)
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No Driver’s License (63-1-5)
“Deputy Martin’s quick response and professionalism prevented this stop from escalating further,” Sheriff David Allison said. Major Donnie Saucier added that proactive enforcement helps keep Pearl River County safer for everyone.
All charges are accusations. The defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law.
