NATCHEZ — Buckling up is important, but especially if you’re riding dirty.

Adams County Sheriff’s Deputy Ben Long said he attempted to pull over a gray Cadillac on Martin Luther King Jr. Street near George F. West Boulevard for failure to wear a seat belt Friday morning when the driver sped off.

Long said Christopher Cornish, 37, Blue Bird Drive, allegedly started throwing crack cocaine out of the car window before deputies stopped him on State Street after a brief car chase.

Deputies recovered 9 grams of crack cocaine from the street that Cornish allegedly threw out his car, which has a street value of $5,040, Metro Narcotics Commander David Lindsey said.

Cornish was charged with possession of crack cocaine with intent to distribute, reckless driving and failure to yield to police lights. In addition, he will receive a ticket for failure to wear a seat belt.