Carthage man arrested by deputies with Xanax, marijuana

A Carthage man was arrested on marijuana and Xanax pill charges during a traffic stop a week after being released on separate drug charges.

The man, Joshua Scott, 40, 751 Drysdale Road, Carthage, was most recently arrested on two misdemeanor drug possession violations, according to Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark.

Deputies encountered Scott at a safety checkpoint near the intersection of Road 147 and Road 604 in between the Hope and Pearl River communities on March 16 at about 4 p.m.

Reports say Scott was driving a black Ford when he was stopped. Clark said deputies smelled marijuana and asked him to exit the vehicle. He said they could see a bag sticking out of the suspect’s jacket in the passenger seat of the car.

A search of the vehicle found misdemeanor amounts of marijuana and Xanax pills, Clark said.

Scott was then arrested, just seven days after he had been released from the Neshoba County Detention Center on unrelated felony drug charges.

“He has not learned his lesson,” Clark said.

Jail records show Scott was released on March 17, at 8:45 a.m. on $1,600 in bond.

Deputies previously observed Scott on Thursday, March 7, at about 11 a.m. where Highway 16 turns into four lanes at the Pow Wow driving recklessly, Clark said.

Deputies initiated a traffic stop and Scott pulled into the valet parking lane at the Silver Star Casino, Clark said.

Upon making contact with Scott, deputies discovered two prescription pill bottles with the labels scratched off. Clark said they found more than 167 pills inside the bottles.

Scott was out of jail two days later on a $7,900 bond, jail records show.