PICAYUNE — Picayune Police Department said officers arrested a Poplarville man after he allegedly tried to cash an unauthorized check at a local bank and fled when police arrived.
Officers were called about 1:23 p.m. Feb. 3, 2026, to BankPlus at 917 Memorial Blvd. after a report that someone was attempting to cash an unauthorized $200 check, police said in a statement. Investigators later confirmed the checks had been stolen from Mt. Zion United Methodist Church in St. Tammany Parish, Louisiana, though the theft had not been reported at the time, police said.
Police said officers arrived as Frank Henry, 33, of Poplarville, was leaving the bank and took him into custody in the parking lot. Henry was charged with two counts of felony false pretense, possession of a controlled substance and possession of paraphernalia, police said.
Police said Henry also had three outstanding warrants through the Poplarville Police Department for contempt of court, false report of a crime and abusive calls to emergency telephone service.
Investigators said Henry allegedly cashed two checks from the same account on Feb. 2 in the amounts of $583 and $700.
Police said officers later obtained and executed a search warrant for a nearby motel room where Henry had been staying. No evidence related to the check allegations was recovered, but officers found Joshua Jones, 42, of Picayune, who had two outstanding warrants through the Pearl River County Sheriff’s Department for possession of a controlled substance and tampering with physical evidence, police said. Jones was arrested on those warrants.
Police said they were later contacted by employees at an IHOP, who reported that Henry, Jones and a third man, Pharoh Davis, 38, had eaten breakfast and left without paying. Police said charges are pending against all three for defrauding an innkeeper.
