Posted on Sun, Mar. 02, 2008

-- Suspects in a Moss Point murder and an unrelated armed robbery in Long Beach top the latest list of South Mississippi's most wanted criminal suspects.

Five of 12 suspects identified in the Sun Herald list on Nov. 18, 2007, have been taken into custody. One was wanted on a murder charge in Moss Point. Another is a person of interest in a suspicious death under investigation as a homicide in Bay St. Louis.

The updated list identifies 11 suspects, including a man wanted in connection with a recent murder in Moss Point. Police have sought federal agents' help to locate Tony Howard, accused in a shooting Feb. 16 that killed one man and wounded two others at the Touch Of Class nightclub.

Moss Point Detective Sgt. Jeff Smith said investigators also want to hear tips from the public, even if the tip is made anonymously.

Another addition to the list is Willie Lewis Bridges, one of two men suspected of robbing a Long Beach woman at gunpoint on Feb. 8. The woman was held up at her home after making a cash withdrawal from a bank. The other suspect, already arrested, was behind her in line at the bank, said Detective Sgt. Brian Beeman.

At the time, both suspects were on probation for armed robbery convictions.

"We're considering Mr. Bridges armed and dangerous," said Beeman. "His family is aware that we're looking for him."

The public's help is invaluable in solving crimes, but suspects can turn up unexpectedly elsewhere, said Detective Sgt. Joe Kepfer of the Bay St. Louis Police Department.

Case in point is that of Thomas Kukish, wanted for questioning in the suspicious death of Douglas Earl Vick near a swimming pool on Woods Place in July 2007.

Kepfer said surveillance tapes from a Bay St. Louis lounge show Kukish and an acquaintance were with Vick about four hours before Vick's body was found.

"We got a call saying he (Kukish) had been found (in Plainfield, N.J.) stumbling around in the street intoxicated, and the (Plainfield, N.J.) agency noticed he was wanted by our department."

Kepfer said he will travel to New Jersey to question Kukish.

"I'll probably end up bringing him back here," Kepfer said.

South Mississippi's most wanted is an ongoing Sun Herald series compiled using information provided by law enforcement agencies. Participating agencies take into consideration the severity of the crime, public safety concerns and a need for the public's help to develop leads.

PROFILES: SOUTH MISSISSIPPI'S MOST WANTED

Law enforcement agencies provide suspect information for inclusion in the Sun Herald series on South Mississippi's most wanted criminal suspects. The suspects, listed by jurisdiction or agency and criminal accusation:

• 

FBI Safe Streets Task Force

Adrion "Baby Banks" Strickland, 34, fugitive from justice, convicted of possession of cocaine with intent to sell. Disappeared from the federal courthouse in Hattiesburg on July 31, 2006, minutes before his sentencing. Agents said he told his attorney he was going to talk to his girlfriend. Believed to be a member of the Black Gangsta Disciples street gang. Prior address in Greene County.

• 

Gautier Police Department

Aaron S. Busby, 41, felony stalking. Accused of stalking a 36-year-old Gautier woman in the fall of 2006. His last known address was on Dead River Road, Gautier.

• 

Gulfport Police Department

Ronald David Wright, 43, molestation. Accused of repeatedly molesting a girl beginning when she was 4 years old. Last alleged incident was in February 2007. Police said he has a growth on the back of his neck and wears a "do-rag" over his head.

• 

Hancock County Sheriff's Department

Ian Vidanes Alcalen, 27, sexual battery. Wanted since 2000, accused of engaging in sex acts with an 11-year-old girl. Was last seen in the Carolinas and may have left the country.

• 

Jackson County Sheriff's Department

Jessie James Sims, 49, noncompliant sex offender. Moved to Jackson County after serving time for conviction of the rape and sexual abuse of a 3-year-old girl in Jefferson County, Ala. Charged with failing to register his address in Jackson County in February 2006. Disappeared while out of jail on bond. Wanted since October 2006. Last seen at King's Hotel in Pascagoula.

• 

Long Beach Police Department

Willie Lewis Bridges, 20, armed robbery. One of two men accused in the Feb. 8 robbery at gunpoint of a woman at her home off Old Pass Road after she withdrew money from a bank. Is on probation for conviction of an armed robbery at the Game Exchange in Gulfport. Last known address Jade Court, Gulfport.

• 

Moss Point Police Department

Tony Markel Howard, 22, murder. Accused of fatally shooting Lorenzo Nettles and wounding two other Moss Point men at the Touch of Class Club on Feb. 16. Police said Nettles tried to break up a fight between Howard and another man. Last known address Eastwood Drive, Moss Point.

• 

Ocean Springs Police Department

Edwin Ulloa, 27, sexual battery. Accused of sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl. Wanted since April 2007. Was last seen driving a black 2003 Nissan Frontier pickup with Georgia license plate number ADG 6609.

• 

U.S. Marshals Service/Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force

Kiet Anh Tri Le, 34, wanted on charges of distributing Ecstasy. Is 5-foot-4, weighs 165 pounds, has tattoo of five dots on a wrist. Indicted federally in Gulfport, has connections to Gulfport, Georgia and Louisiana.

Also, Lederrick R. "Champ" Brown, 21, wanted on two indicted counts of capital murder in Jackson County. Is 6-foot-2, 240 pounds and has tattoos: "Kreole Boy" on left arm and "Taliban" on right arm. Believed to be in Jackson County. Accused in the April 14, 2006, slayings of Gary Riley and Brandon Taylor.

• 

Waveland Police Department

Anthony Alexander Saucier, 20, possession of controlled substance, possession with intent to sell, felony assault of a police officer. Wanted since a traffic stop in April 2006 at the Kiln-Waveland Cutoff and Laurel Street. Police said they found cocaine in his vehicle and he fled after a fight with officers wounded one officer's leg. Last known address, Shieldsboro Place, Bay St. Louis.

- COMPILED BY ROBIN FITZGERALD AND MARGARET BAKER

CAPTURED

Five of South Mississippi's most wanted criminal suspects have been taken into custody since their inclusion on the list in November 2007. About the suspects and captures:

• Thomas Kukish: Wanted in Bay St. Louis as a person of interest in the suspicious death July 23, 2007, of Douglas Earl Vick. Found by Plainfield, N.J., police Feb. 16 drunk on a city street. Authorities said he will be questioned and may be extradited.

• Jermaine McDonald: Wanted in Biloxi on warrant for sale of crack cocaine. Considered a habitual offender. Found serving time in a state prison for convictions on drug and firearm charges.

• Michael Patrick Serge: Wanted in Long Beach on grand larceny charges in home-repair fraud cases. Arrested with his wife Jan. 18 at their home in Flat Rock, Ala. Extradited to Harrison County.

• Chris Randall Harper: Wanted in Pass Christian on a grand larceny charge involving a concrete mixer stolen from his employer. Turned himself in a week after reading about himself on the most wanted list.

• Jarrid S. Thames: Wanted in Moss Point on a murder warrant for the May 14 fatal shooting of Ranada T. Davis. Captured Feb. 19 in Moss Point in joint efforts headed by the U.S. Marshals Service Gulf Coast Regional Fugitive Task Force.

- COMPILED BY ROBIN FITZGERALD AND MARGARET BAKER

TO GIVE A TIP

To give a tip on one of South Mississippi's most wanted, contact the agency seeking the suspect. The agencies:

• Bay St. Louis Police Department: 255-9191.

• Biloxi Police Department: 392-0641 or 435-6112.

• FBI Safe Streets Task Force: 769-7920.

• Gautier Police Department: 497-2486.

• Gulfport Police Department: 868-5959.

• Hancock County Sheriff's Department: 467-5101 or 466-6900.

• Harrison County Sheriff's Department: 865-7060.

• Jackson County Sheriff's Department: 769-3063.

• Long Beach Police Department: 863-7292.

• Moss Point Police Department: 475-1711.

• Ocean Springs Police Department: 875-2211.

• Pascagoula Police Department: 452-3300.

• Waveland Police Department: 467-3669.

• U.S. Marshals Service: For tips on Lederrick Brown, call 235-6767; for tips on Kiet Anh Tri Le, call 563-1505.

IAN VIDANES ALCALEN

ALLEGEDLY ENGAGED IN SEX ACTS WITH A CHILD

WILLIE LEWIS BRIDGES

ALLEGEDLY ROBBED WOMAN AT GUNPOINT

LEDERRICK R. BROWN

ACCUSED OF 2 COUNTS CAPITAL MURDER

AARON S. BUSBY

ALLEDGEDLY

STALKED A WOMAN

TONY MARKEL HOWARD

ACCUSED IN FATAL NIGHTCLUB SHOOTING

KIET ANH TRI LE

ACCUSED OF DISTRIBUTING ECSTASY

ANTHONY A. SAUCIER

DRUG OFFENSES, ASSAULT ON OFFICER

JESSIE JAMES SIMS

FAILURE TO REGISTER AS A SEX OFFENDER

FAILURE TO APPEAR AFTER CONVICTION

EDWIN ULLOA

ALLEDGEDLY HAD

SEX WITH A CHILD

RONALD DAVID WRIGHT

ALLEDGEDLY

MOLESTED A CHILD