Mallet arrested Tuesday near St. Joseph after his vehicle ran out of gas
A 27-year-old Jackson, Miss. man wanted for aggravated assault and murder last week was arrested Tuesday in Tensas Parish by agents with the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
According to a press release, Marcus Ebenezer Mallet, along was Jovanti Barnes, 22, and Kanari L. Screws, 23, both of Natchez, were arrested for possession of cocaine and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon.
During the investigation, Mallet, who provided several false names to agents, was found to be wanted in Mississippi for aggravated assault and murder in Jackson last week. Mallet also was charged with resisting an officer.
An LDWF agent observed the men walking away from a stalled vehicle on the side of Highway 65 north of St. Joseph, and asked if they needed assistance. They told him they had run out of gas on the way from Tallulah to Natchez, the release states.
The agent transported Barnes to get fuel in St. Joseph, but smelled marijuana on the man, according to the release, so another agent met the men back at the stalled vehicle.
The agents were given permission to search the vehicle, and allegedly found cocaine and a loaded semi-automatic pistol. All three men were then arrested, and were found to have criminal records including armed robbery, grand theft, burglary, carjacking and drug charges, the release states.
Mallet, who was transported to the Tensas Parish Jail, is awaiting extradition to Mississippi on the murder charge, according to the release.
Possession of cocaine brings up to a $5,000 fine and two to five years in prison. Illegal possession of a firearm by a convicted felon carries a $1,000 to $5,000 fine and 10 to 20 years in prison, the release states.
