JONES COUNTY – Three people were arrested following a narcotics investigation at a residence on Trace Road, according to the Jones County Sheriff’s Department.
Sheriff’s narcotics agents and investigators with the department’s Criminal Investigations Division went to a home in the 300 block of Trace Road on March 23 to serve a Jones County Circuit Court bench warrant on Stephanie Williams, 51.
Source: Jones Co. SOAs officers arrived, a man identified as John Smith, 37, also known as “Smitty,” ran from the scene on foot, authorities said.
Source: Jones Co. SOInvestigators said Smith fled into a field in front of the house and threw suspected fentanyl from his pocket while running. Officers caught up with him, but said he resisted arrest and broke free before running again. He was later taken into custody after a second foot chase.
Authorities said agents found a bag of suspected methamphetamine in Smith’s pocket.
Investigators later executed a search warrant at the Trace Road residence and recovered additional narcotics, according to the sheriff’s department. That led to a charge against homeowner Richard Cockrell, 66, for possession of a controlled substance, identified as methamphetamine.
Source: Jones Co. SOWilliams, Smith and Cockrell were each charged with possession of a controlled substance. Smith also was charged with resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.
All three were taken to the Jones County Adult Detention Facility, where they remained pending an initial appearance in Jones County Justice Court.
The sheriff’s department said its Narcotics Division worked 186 felony narcotics cases in 2025. Through March 20, 2026, agents had opened 55 cases, nearly 30% of last year’s total.
