Wrong number brings police, arrest

ESCATAWPA --
Narcotics officers said Curtiss Randall Coleman, 53, of Escatawpa, picked up his phone Wednesday afternoon just before the 6 p.m. newscast to get the number for WLOX-TV to share his story about not receiving a FEMA trailer after Hurricane Katrina.

But instead of 411 directory assistance, he accidentally dialed 911, then hung up. Dispatchers alerted Jackson County sheriff's deputies to the caller's location because they feared someone might be in need of assistance.

Deputies arrived at Coleman's home on Mississippi 613 and no one answered the door. Officers broke in and found three people inside. Officers were given consent to search the home and found a methamphetamine lab and large amounts of dry ice and chemicals used to make the powerful illegal stimulant.

Four suspects were arrested, including Coleman and his son, Christopher, 30, who also lives there. A fifth suspect remains at large.

Sgt. Curtis Spears, commander of the Narcotics Task Force of Jackson County, said the story could probably be filed under "dumb crook news."

"It was a calamity of errors on Mr. Coleman's part," Spears said in disbelief. "He's not the sharpest crayon in the box, I can tell you that."

Spears said there's a possibility the group was sampling the product, but no cooked meth was found in the house.

In addition to the Colemans, narcotics agents also arrested Erin Paula Oliver, 35, of Moss Point, and Leslie Renee McMahon, 27, of Ocean Springs. All four were charged with conspiracy to manufacture meth.

The four suspects were awaiting transport to the Jackson County jail as Spears and others worked at the scene cleaning up the lab late Wednesday.