To say Memorial Day weekend was busy for the Grenada County Sheriff’s Office would be an understatement.
The men and women of the department stayed busy for 96 hours straight dealing with a wide range of emergency calls from a fatal accident to a severe ATV crash to a damage-causing thunderstorm to a high-speed chase. Sprinkle in the department’s normal day-to-day calls and busy doesn’t do the department’s workload justice.
The eventful holiday weekend began on a tragic note when a 21-year-old Grenada resident flipped his vehicle numerous times on Toe Road adjacent to Grenada Lake near Hwy. 332, just before 7:30 p.m. last Friday.
“Upon the arrival of deputies, it was discovered that the involved vehicle, a 1997 Lincoln, had flipped numerous times and the driver and lone occupant of the vehicle had been ejected,” Chief Deputy Ricky Williamson II explained.
According to GCSO reports, Grenada Lake Park Rangers, MedStat Emergency Medical Services personnel and Tie Plant Volunteer Fire Department members reported to the scene to assist GCSO deputies. The driver, Antonio Purnell, a 2023 graduate of Grenada High School, was airlifted to the trauma center in Memphis, Tenn., but died en route.
Antonio Purnell
The crash remains under investigation, according to Williamson.
Memorial Day weekend concluded with a high-speed pursuit that ended when the suspect crashed his 1997 Ford Crown Victoria into a metal light pole just north of Exit 206 off Interstate 55 in Grenada. Kentra Ravern Clay of Greenwood was the driver of the vehicle and exited it on his own following the crash and was taken into custody. He was assessed for injuries at the University of Mississippi Medical Center-Grenada before being detained.
The pursuit, which originated in the city limits of Batesville, entered Grenada County at approximately 6:45 p.m., according to GCSO reports. According to Williamson, the pursuit reached speeds of more than 100 mph.
“Grenada County Sheriff’s Office assisted by stationing at all exits on Interstate 55 in Grenada County in order to keep the pursuit from entering in populated areas within the county and city,” Williamson added. “The crash investigation was deferred to our office by the Grenada Police Department.”
In addition to charges with the Batesville Police Department, Clay will also face charges with GCSO.
Twenty-four hours after the fatal crash on Toe Road, GCSO deputies responded to an ATV crash at the intersection of Shelby Chapel Road and Sweethome Road with serious injuries. Adonte “Dunt” Scott, 24, was airlifted from the Grenada Airport for treatment of injuries, while 23-year-old Kiarra Clemons as transported by MedStat EMS to UMMC-Grenada for care.
This crash also remains under investigation.
Hankins Wrecker Service personnel pull the wrecked ATV from a large ravine late last Saturday night. | Photo by Adam Prestridge © 2025 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Just after 7 p.m. Sunday night, a severe thunderstorm with violent straight line winds moved through Grenada County leaving dozens of uprooted trees and downed power lines in its wake. The aftermath of the storm kept the department busy for several hours blocking and clearing county thoroughfares that were blocked by trees and limbs and making welfare calls. From Holcomb to Gore Springs, debris and power outages were reported.
“Through the efforts of the Grenada County Sheriff’s Office, numerous county fire departments, all Grenada County District Supervisors, the Mississippi Department of Transportation, the Yalobusha County Volunteer Fire Department and Yalobusha County Sheriff’s Office, and many good Samaritan citizens, the majority of the roadways were cleared before midnight,” Sheriff Garrett Hartley said.
Numerous power outages remain throughout the county as of Tuesday afternoon.
Numerous trees and power lines were toppled on Hugh White State Park Road in Grenada County. | Photo by Adam Prestridge © 2025 Emmerich Newspapers, Inc.
Throughout all of the chaos, GCSO deputies also made two DUI arrests, according to Williamson.
Daniel E. Slayton, 24, of Marion, was arrested and charged with DUI 1st Offense by Grenada County Sheriff’s Office on May 25, after a call of a motor vehicle crash in the 26000 block of Hwy. 8 east just shortly after midnight.
James Govan, 51, of Cascilla, was arrested and charged with DUI 2nd Offense and Driving While License Suspended on May 26, during the course of a traffic stop at approximately 12:44 a.m. on Pearidge Road.
All arrested persons are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the respective court of law.
GCSO also issued numerous traffic citations over the holiday weekend.
