Illegal caught drunk driving at checkpoint

A foreign national who is in the country illegally was arrested for drunk driving here over the weekend and could face deportation.

The man, Jesus Delatorre, 50, of 8827 Whippoorwill Lane, Meridian, was arrested and charged with DUI, careless driving, seat belt violation, no insurance, and driving without a license, according to Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark.

Clark said Delatorre has a hold on him from Immigration and Customs Enforcement for entering the country illegally.

Clark said he is believed to be from Campeche, Mexico.

Delatorre was arrested during a safety checkpoint on Highway 15 South near the intersection with Road 248 just south of the McDonald community on Saturday, Jan. 25, at about 11:30 p.m.

Clark said he talked with ICE representatives on Sunday, and they put the hold on Delatorre. ICE likely intends to deport Delatorre, Clark said.

This arrest comes the weekend after President Donald J. Trump was sworn into office for his second term. Clark said working with ICE in this instance is fairly routine and has nothing to do with change in administration.

“We have a really good relationship with ICE,” Clark said. “This is nothing new. We aren’t going around kicking down doors”

Clark said they only make arrests for crimes committed in Neshoba County. If the Neshoba County Sheriff’s Office arrests someone who does not have “the proper credentials,” Clark said they make a call to ICE. Clark said this is a call he usually handles personally.

Clark said that has been the way such situations have been handled for at least his tenure and likely goes back further than that.

This arrest comes after rumors circulated recently that ICE had been to a Neshoba County School District school.

“It has come to our attention that a recent post circulating on social media claims that ICE has been on the Neshoba Central campus,” NCSD officials said in a statement posted on social media Monday. “We want to assure you that this information is completely false. We can confirm with 100% certainty that there has been no presence of ICE on our campus.”

Illegal immigration was a key point of Trump’s campaign, and following the election, he promised swift action by ICE agents across the country to roundup those in the country illegally. 

Police Chief Eric Lyons said he has received no updates from ICE on Fredy Antonio Amaya-Marin, 39, and expects him to face trial here. Amaya-Marin is the illegal immigrant accused of shooting at cars here in August and remains in the Leake County Detention Center on eight charges of attempted murder.

Amaya-Marin also potentially faces several federal charges, including illegal re-entry after deportation and illegal alien in possession of a firearm through ICE.

Lyons said he is working with the District Attorney’s office to indict the Salvadoran man. He said he hopes the indictment could come as early as the next grand jury in April.

“Likely he will face these charges here first and if convicted could spend rest of life in prison before any chance of being deported,” Lyons said.

Amaya-Marin was arrested at 288 Alford Avenue at about 2 a.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24.  Alford Avenue runs between Beacon and Main near the Hondumex Authentic Mexican Restaurant.

Amaya-Marin is believed to be part of the violent MS-13 gang,

Police say about 15 vehicles were struck with bullets in the August shootings, three of which left individuals injured.

Lyons said he may be responsible for shooting out windows at the public library discovered on Aug. 27 and other possible incidents.

Lyons said investigators have questioned Amaya-Martin and said he has denied any involvement in the shootings.

Investigators determined that Amaya-Marin purchased ammunition at a local gun dealer and also attempted to purchase an AR-15 days prior to the shooting spree. Lyons said he was denied purchase of that weapon and only purchased the ammunition. 

“We believe that he had intentions on carrying out more attacks throughout the city if he were allowed to purchase the rifle,” Lyons said.

According to Neshoba County Sheriff Eric Clark, Amaya-Marin was arrested on Sept. 28 of 2023 during a traffic stop on Gum Street, where he was found to be impaired and had a misdemeanor amount of a controlled substance in his possession. He was subsequently charged with DUI and misdemeanor possession of a controlled substance.

Clark said Amaya-Marin was released on March 28 because he had served his time on the initial charges under the false name.

He was booked here in 2023 under the name Jonathan Salvador, 38, of 5317 Hoadley Street in Brighton, Alabama. Clark said that was the same name he would give PPD at the time of his arrest in the sniper shootings.

Clark said the sniper arrest exposed the need for an update in their fingerprint identification system — an issue his office quickly addressed at the time it was discovered.