Pearl Police arrested two individuals in connection with the false reporting of an armed carjacking that was claimed to have happened at the Save-A-Lot parking lot on May 27.
The suspects have been identified as 38 -year-old Kenbrosky Santrell Smith, from Jackson, who is charged with accessory after the fact, and 41-year-old Chaquinta Lynell Russell, from Byram, who is charged with making a false report of a crime to law enforcement, embezzlement, and other pending charges.
According to police, the incident began when a call was received from the Jackson Police Department regarding a female reporting a carjacking at gunpoint.
The female alleged that a man forced her to drive to Jackson, got her out of the vehicle, and stole it. Following an investigation, officers learned that the reported carjacking was fabricated.
Further investigation revealed that Russell, a manager at a Pearl Dairy Queen, did not report thefts of nightly deposits from the business that occurred the night before the incident. Both Russell and Smith were later detained when the carjacked vehicle was found in Madison.
Both suspects denied involvement in the carjacking and were arrested following a collaborative investigation between Pearl PD and Madison PD. The case remains under investigation, and authorities have stated it will be presented to the Rankin County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
