Union deputies arrest three for drugs, domestic violence

By Hank Wiesner

NEW ALBANY, MS — The Union County Sheriff’s Department arrested three people on drug and domestic violence charges in two unrelated cases over the weekend, authorities said this week.

Capsule summaries of each case:

–Christopher Stutsy, 37, of Houlka, is being held on $35,000 bond after being charged with possession of marijuana with intent, and possession of meth with intent.

Anthony Wayne Echols, 49, of Pontotoc, is charged with possession of meth with intent in the same case. He is being held on $25,000 bond, according to Union County Sheriff Jimmy Edwards.

The sheriff said the two were in a vehicle when deputies made a traffic stop on Miss. 15 at the Ingomar intersection about 4:15 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17.

Stutsy ran from the vehicle, but was caught after a short chase.

Two small bags of marijuana and about ¾ oz. of meth were found in the vehicle. Stutsy threw away three bags of marijuana while being chased, Sheriff Edwards said.

He said Stutsy faces additional legal problems. He was on federal and state probation at the time he was arrested, and he’s wanted on a grand larceny warrant out of Chickasaw County, the sheriff said.

–Jessica Vandiver, 32, of Holcomb, Miss., is free on $45,000 bond after being charged with two counts of attempted aggravated assault and one count of attempted aggravated domestic violence.

Several shots were fired during the situation, but no one was hit.

Sheriff Edwards said the case began with a 911 call just after 4 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 18.

Three people in a mobile home in the Blue Springs Community on Miss. 9 South –one of whom was Vandiver’s husband — told investigators Vandiver drove to the scene, then entered the trailer.

She then fired at least three rounds from a 9 m.m. pistol. Two rounds struck the floor; the third struck a clothes dryer. Someone then wrested the pistol away from her, the sheriff said.

A woman in the trailer also sustained minor injuries after she was struck with a curtain rod during the melee, the sheriff said.

Deputies arrested Vandiver at the scene without incident.