Clay County Sheriff’s Office is asking the public’s help locating Dequan Dewayne “Big Poppa” Upchurch, 41.
Upchurch is wanted for armed robbery, burglary of a dwelling and five counts of kidnapping, according to a CCSO press release. He is believed to be the fourth suspect in a robbery and kidnapping of a Clay County family.
The other three suspects, 43-year-old Emmett Buchanan, 22-year-old Clarence Mitchell and 22-year-old Hakeem Upchurch, all of Houston, Mississippi, have been arrested and are being held on bonds of $1,225,000 each.
Sheriff Eddie Scott said he understands Hakeem Upchurch is Dequan Upchurch’s son.
Authorities previously said the four suspects entered a Pine Bluff home in western Clay County on Nov. 29, where they allegedly assaulted the homeowners in the front yard, before locking a woman and four children in a closet and robbing another of the homeowners of about $1,150.
Each of the children was under the age of 10.
Scott said officers with the U.S. Marshal’s Service, as well as other law enforcement agencies, are looking for Dequan Upchurch. Anyone with information about him is asked to call Golden Triangle Crime Stoppers at 1-800-530-7151 or CCSO at 662-494-2896.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 53 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.