Hattiesburg police continue to be on the lookout for a teenager who is thought to be in the company of a former teacher who was recently charged with sexual battery from a position of trust or authority.
According to an email from Ryan Moore, public information officer at Hattiesburg Police Department, 16-year-old Oscar O’Neal II was reported missing by his mother at about 7 a.m. Monday. He is suspected to be with Nicole Jackson, 30, a former teacher at Earl Travillion Attendance Center who turned herself in earlier this month after police received details of an inappropriate relationship between Jackson and a student.
O’Neal was last seen at about 1 a.m. Monday at his home.
Authorities suspect O’Neal and Jackson may be traveling in a dark blue Chevrolet Impala with Mississippi license plate FRA-4454.
Jackson is currently out an a $10,000 bond and police have an active warrant for her arrest. Jackson, who was an eighth-grade reading and language teacher at Earl Travillion, had recently resigned from the school.
Police are asking anyone with information on O’Neal and Jackson’s whereabouts to call HPD or Metro Crime Stoppers at (601) 582-7867.
Operation nets 6 arrests, 4 stolen guns
On Thursday, April 26, Hattiesburg Police, Metro Narcotics, Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics, DEA, and the Mississippi Department of Corrections arrested six people, recovered four stolen weapons and cleaned 25 gang-tagged signs.
Courtney Mason, 26, of Hattiesburg- charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and possession of a stolen weapon.
Antonio Cohn, 34, of Columbia- charged with a probation violation.
Dalvin Taylor, 20, of Hattiesburg- charged with possession of a weapon by a convicted felon, and possession of a stolen weapon.
Vincent Sandifer, 18, of Hattiesburg- charged with possession of a stolen weapon and being held as a fugitive for another jurisdiction.
Shaquille Minor, 22, of Hattiesburg- charged with a probation violation.
Adrian Barnes, 19, of Hattiesburg- charged with possession of a stolen weapon.
All of the suspects were transported to the Forrest County Jail and booked. Their mugshots are available on the Forrest County Sheriff’s Department website.
Bullets fired on Katie Avenue
On Tuesday, April 24, Hattiesburg Police responded to a report of shots fired in the area of 201 Katie Ave. around 6 p.m.
When officers arrived, they spoke with several witnesses, who said they observed a verbal altercation between multiple subjects. Witnesses advised that an unknown model white pickup truck and a black Dodge Ram truck were blocking the street at Rosa and John Street for several minutes.
A black Nissan Altima attempted to go around, and a black female exited the Altima with a bat and caused a verbal altercation. At that time, a black male exited the Dodge Ram and grabbed a shovel from the bed of the truck and hit the car with it.
Witnesses said several gunshots were fired from the Altima with possibly three people inside as it drove off.
As the investigation continued, officers discovered that the black Dodge Ram was struck with a bullet.
Just after 7 p.m. officers spotted the Nissan Altima on Shelton Avenue and conducted a traffic stop.
Lanon Manzie, 20, was arrested and charged with accessory after the fact of aggravated assault.
Other arrests are pending in the ongoing investigation. If anyone has any information pertaining to the investigation, please contact Hattiesburg Police or Metro Crime Stoppers at 601-582-STOP.
Hattiesburg Police need the public’s help in identifying a suspect in an armed robbery.
On Sunday, April 29, just after 1 a.m., Hattiesburg Police responded to 6734 U.S. Highway 49, Dandy Dan’s for an armed robbery.
When officers arrived, they were advised that a white male, wearing a gray shirt with a Yeti Logo, blue jeans, dark sunglasses and a gray shirt tied around his head pulled a knife and demanded money from the register. The victim advised that the suspect grabbed his jacket and demanded money again.
The victim then pulled his own knife and told the suspect to leave. The suspect exited the store and left the scene on foot.
There was a knife recovered outside at the scene in the parking lot.
If you have any information, please call Hattiesburg Police or Metro Crime Stoppers at 601-582-STOP.
