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ROUTINE STOP FOR LACK OF LICENSE TAG LEADS TO DISCOVERY

A former Jackson police officer and Hinds County sheriff's deputy was one of three men arrested Thursday on drug charges during a traffic stop by the Sheriff's Department, said Hinds County Sgt.  Steve Pickett.

Jeffery Blair Gagneaux, 32, of 386 Raymond Road in Jackson, is charged with driving under the influence, possession of marijuana, possession of a controlled substance and a seat belt violation.

"Gagneaux was driving with no tag," Pickett said.  "It was a routine traffic stop executed by the Street Crimes Task Force."

Gagneaux was released Friday from the Hinds County Detention Center on a $6,500 bond.

Two passengers in his car were also arrested.

Gary Craig Burnside, 34, of 325 Jefferson St., Richland, is charged with possession of a controlled substance, possession of less than one ounce of marijuana and false pretense.  He was released from the detention center Friday on a $6,000 bond.

Thomas Marion Woodruff, 28, of 286 Raymond Road, Jackson, is charged with two counts of possession of a controlled substance, possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia.  He was being held Friday night at the Hinds County Detention Center on a $6,000 bond.

This is not Gagneaux's first brush with trouble.  He worked as a Jackson police officer from Aug.  3, 1993, until then-Chief Robert Johnson put him on administrative leave June 13, 1995.

Gagneaux and two other Jackson police officers played a prank on a convenience store clerk.  He faked shooting Alexander Lee with a shotgun while another officer videotaped it.  Gagneaux resigned July 19, 1995.

Gagneaux spent five years as a deputy before resigning last November, Pickett said.  He would not say why Gagneaux resigned, citing personnel reasons.