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The Adams County Sheriff’s Office conducted a saturation patrol Wednesday evening in Natchez, part of the recently announced Operation Safe Neighborhoods.

Adams County Sheriff’s deputies will join Natchez Police officers in saturated patrolling in some areas of Natchez, an effort to curb shootings and violent crime in the city.

“During the saturation, deputies conducted several traffic stops in high crime areas and came in contact with numerous people with handguns and an assault rifle,” Sheriff Travis Patten said in a press release issued Thursday morning.

“Deputies were able to locate three people who had outstanding warrants for Natchez Police Department and the Adams County Sheriff’s Office,” he said.

Deputies were involved in a foot pursuit over several blocks in the Daisy Street area. They arrested Barrney Hawkins after he was found hiding under a house on Grant Street. Hawkins was allegedly found in possession of cocaine and crack cocaine.

Hawkins, who is on probation out of Adams County Circuit Court for arson, was arrested and charged with possession of cocaine and crack cocaine with intent to deliver within 1,000 feet of a school zone. He was also charged with resisting arrest.

Deputies also observed Sam Mason standing in front of a residence on Oak Street. He was taken into custody after a brief struggle.

“Mason has been hiding from law enforcement since 2021 when warrants were signed for his arrest for accessory after the fact for a drive-by shooting. Deputies also arrested one of his family members at the residence for disorderly conduct,” Patten said.