Just after midnight on Monday, deputies with the Delta County Sheriff’s Office were made aware of a stolen vehicle traveling north on Highway 24.
The vehicle described as a 2019 gray Dodge truck was stolen out of the state of Arkansas. The vehicle was found stopped on the side of the road on Highway 24 near County Road 2000 by Delta County Sheriff’s Office.
A man later identified as 64-year-old Michael Penn from Blytheville, Arkansas, was found asleep in the front passenger seat of the truck.
“Penn told deputies that the truck ran out of gas and the driver had left to go get some gas,” according to Delta County Sheriff’s Office.
Penn was taken into custody for Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle.
Delta County Sheriff’s found a man walking eastbound on west Dallas Avenue carrying a clear container. The deputy made contact with the man, identified as 42-year-old William Rusten Sprayberry, of Tupelo, Mississippi.
“Sprayberry told the deputy that he had run out of gas and was headed to the gas station to get some gas,” according to Delta Co. SO. “In addition, he gave the deputy a description of the truck he was driving and that it was left on Highway 24. The description given by Mr. Sprayberry matched that of the stolen truck.”
The deputy placed Mr. Sprayberry into custody and took him back to the location of the stolen truck.
Officers took inventory of the vehicle and reportedly found a syringe containing “a crystal-like residue believed to be methamphetamines.” Both men were booked into the Delta County Jail.
Delta Co. Sheriff’s said during the arrest, a large amount of counterfeit currency was found on Mr. Sprayberry.
Penn is being held on Misdemeanor A, Unauthorized Use of a Motor Vehicle with a $10,000 bond. Sprayberry is being held on a Misdemeanor A, Unauthorized Use of a Motor vehicle with a $20,000 bond, State Jail Felony, Possession of a Controlled Substance PG1 under 1 gram with a $25,000 bond, and a Third Degree Felony, Forgery of a Financial Instrument/Money with a $20,000 bond.
