Florence, MS – A routine traffic stop in Florence led to the arrest of two men from Vicksburg on October 31, 2024. Officers with the Florence Police Department initiated the stop on Hwy 49 South for improper equipment, but the investigation quickly uncovered a more serious situation.
During the search of the vehicle, Curtis Blackwood, a Vicksburg resident with a Bay St. Louis address, was found to be in possession of a controlled substance, drug paraphernalia, and driving with a suspended license.
The passenger in the vehicle, Keonta Lawrence, also from Vicksburg with a Biloxi address, was found to be in possession of a controlled substance and paraphernalia, as well as a firearm.
Both men were arrested on charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute, Possession of Paraphernalia, and Blackwood was additionally charged with Driving While License Suspended (DWLS: Implied Consent).
Blackwood and Lawrence were transported and booked into the Rankin County Detention Center.
