Local Headlines

Toddler dies after multi-car crash in Ridgeland

By China Lee | June 2, 2020 at 9:51 PM CDT – Updated June 3 at 1:18 PM

RIDGELAND, Miss. (WLBT) – The Ridgeland Police Department has released a press statement regarding the death of a child after a multi-car crash in Ridgeland on Tuesday evening.

According to the press release, officers responded to the scene at 7:43 p.m. Upon arrival, police say they discovered a young child, female 22 months old, injured and falling in and out of consciousness.

Medical personnel was dispatched and the child was transported to Blair E. Batson Children’s hospital. They were later informed the child had succumbed to her injuries.

The driver of the vehicle has been identified as the child’s mother, a 22-year-old resident of Ridgeland.

Police say the initial investigation determined the child was secured in a child restraint seat on the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The manner in which the seat was secured in the vehicle is under investigation.

The mother sustained non-life threatening injuries and was transported to UMMC. The drivers/occupants of the two additional vehicles involved in the accident were uninjured.

The cause and details of the accident are under investigation.

Vicksburg NAACP calling for unity, planning protest against police brutality

By China Lee | June 2, 2020 at 9:36 PM CDT – Updated June 4 at 12:10 PM

VICKSBURG, Miss. (WLBT) – Rallying against racism and police brutally. Vicksburg’s local NAACP along with local leaders and community plan to do just that on Friday.

The move come in response to the death of George Floyd who died in police custody in Minneapolis. Some of the organizers say its time for an end to systemic racism.

“We got to put the laws on the books, we have to make fair for everybody, the playing ground needs to be even,”Vicksburg’s NAACP President Bobbie Morrow.

Morrow says it was disturbing to watch a white officer use his knee to pin down George Floyd’s neck to the ground for nearly nine minutes.

“Some police officers need more training. There is a sensitivity that needs to be developed within police offices to let them know even if this person is the worst criminal there is a way that person still needs to be treated because they are in your care. They don’t need to be murdered,” said Morrow.

Vicksburg residents Alvin Clark and Michael Bunch agree. They also point out that violence against black men and women in this country is nothing new.

“We are not an animal and that is how they want to treat us,” said Bunch.

“Our prayers go out to our brother Floyd and his family and everyone affected over the years by this racism,” said Clark.

They are pleased to see people around the world who are standing up against police brutally and racism, but they don’t condone the rioting and violence.

“The First Amendment gives us the right to exercise our freedom of speech.”

“There is a right way to do things and a wrong way and the rioting is wrong and the protesting is right,” said Clark.

“We need to keep bringing attention to this issue. We need leadership that speaks to this issue, and we need leadership that is not self-serving, but someone who is genuinely concerned about the people,” Morrow said.

They say the best way for real change is to vote.

“If you are not voting, your voices are not being heard,” Bunch said.

“I vote if they are voting for a dogcatcher, go and vote cast your, vote for every election,” Morrow said.

To demand justice and equality for all, they are helping organize a peaceful city-wide march in Vicksburg this week.

Organizers say everyone is invited to help rally against racism and promote unity in communities.

Police brutality march planned in Vicksburg (Source: Vicksburg NAACP)

Mental health help sought more during pandemic and protests

By Roslyn Anderson | June 2, 2020 at 7:03 PM CDT – Updated June 3 at 7:43 AM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – We’re barely halfway through 2020 and events of the year are taking a toll on the mental health of many residents.

The number of people seeking treatment has increased dramatically as the pandemic rages and national protests unfold.

A mental health professional shares how you should handle these life changing events.

National protests that have turned violent only add to the anxiety and stress of COVID-19′s spread.

Rhonda Davis is a licensed professional counselor with Hinds Behavioral Health Services.

“Understand individually what is too much to take in and once you understand that be okay with saying I’ve got to give myself a break,” said Davis. “I’ve got to pull back to get myself back from this for just a minute to get myself back to a place where I can think”.

There are those who have taken to the streets voicing their opposition to the murder of George Floyd.

Others remain out of work and retreat into their homes to escape it all.

“Stay present. Stay in the now. That goes back to what we say about focusing on what you can control,” said Davis. “So don’t stress on the what if and the should have, would have, could have. That will sometimes lead to depressed feelings. Stay right here where you are”.

According to Davis, you must manage your own mental health and know what is your normal and how it changes. If you have suicidal thoughts there is help locally.

“Here at Hinds Behavioral Health Services we have a mobile crisis team. You can contact us and a mobile crisis team will come out and be dispatched to your location to help you through that process as well,” Davis added.

Contact Hinds Behavioral Health Services at 601-321-2400.

The National Suicide Hotline number is 1-800-273-8255.

Six arrested in major drug bust in Scott Co.

By China Lee | June 2, 2020 at 3:55 PM CDT – Updated June 2 at 3:56 PM

SCOTT COUNTY, Miss. (WLBT) – Six people have been arrested in a drug bust in Scott County.

Tuesday morning the Scott County Sheriff’s Office working with the Forest Police Department, the Bureau of Narcotics, the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA), and the Eight Circuit Drug Court arrested six people on conspiracy to distribute or possess a controlled substance in Scott County.

The arrests come as a result of an investigation into large amounts of narcotics being transported, possessed and distributed in Scott County.

All arrests were made without incident.

Those arrested were as follows: Damean Dozier, 43, Vincente Parker, 28, Linda Gunn, 52, Demetrice Chesser, 37, Doyle Chapman, 37, and Ricky Smith 60.

City of Jackson to hand out 50K face masks

By Jacob Gallant | June 2, 2020 at 2:39 PM CDT – Updated June 2 at 2:39 PM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Jackson city leaders will be distributing 50,000 masks to its residents.

They say Jackson is the epicenter of the virus in the state because of its population, and they want to ensure every Jackson resident is able to have access to a mask.

The city received a donation from FEMA, MEMA and the governor’s office.

Mayor Chokwe Lumumba said ensuring safety of everyone is one of the biggest tasks a mayor has.

Distribution will begin Wednesday at Sykes Community Center. Masks will also be available at:

West Side Community Center
Old Fred’s parking lot on Old Canton Road
Champion Gym
Vergy P Middleton Community Center
Pete Brown Golf Course
Metrocenter parking lot

Lumumba urges residents to take caution, as the numbers do not suggest the virus is going away. He says they even indicate some spikes happening.

He says overall, the majority of people in Jackson have been abiding by the face mask requirement, but he understands it would be impossible to have 100% participation.

16,020 cases of coronavirus identified by Miss. Dept. of Health; 767 deaths

Protecting Yourself from Coronavirus (May 2020)

By WLBT Digital | March 13, 2020 at 11:42 AM CDT – Updated June 2 at 11:26 AM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – The number of presumed positive coronavirus cases in Mississippi is now at 16,020.

The Mississippi Department of Health confirmed 268 new cases and 28 new deaths on Tuesday. So far, 767 people have died from COVID-19 in Mississippi.

The amount of people tested in the state totals 187,270 as of June 1. This includes MSDH Public Health Laboratory tests and other providers.

There’s also 1,935 reported cases in long-term care facilities in the state.

An estimated 11,203 people have recovered from the virus.

The number of cases per county are (as of June 2):

Adams – 200; 15 deaths
Alcorn – 18; 1 death
Amite – 64; 1 death
Attala – 303; 18 deaths
Benton – 14
Bolivar – 165; 11 deaths
Calhoun – 67; 4 deaths
Carroll – 116; 11 deaths
Chickasaw – 137; 14 deaths
Choctaw – 47; 2 deaths
Claiborne -112; 2 deaths
Clarke – 154; 19 deaths
Clay – 115; 4 deaths
Coahoma – 127; 4 deaths
Copiah – 315; 4 deaths
Covington – 173; 2 deaths
DeSoto – 553; 8 deaths
Forrest – 594; 39 deaths
Franklin – 29; 2 deaths
George – 26; 1 death
Greene – 22; 1 death
Grenada – 99; 3 deaths
Hancock – 91; 12 deaths
Harrison – 263; 7 deaths
Hinds – 1,035; 26 deaths
Holmes – 439; 28 deaths
Humphreys – 59; 7 deaths
Itawamba – 89; 7 deaths
Jackson – 308; 13 deaths
Jasper – 164; 4 deaths
Jefferson – 43; 1 death
Jefferson Davis – 80; 3 deaths
Jones – 663; 31 deaths
Kemper – 147; 11 deaths
Lafayette – 141; 4 deaths
Lamar – 248; 5 deaths
Lauderdale – 745; 68 deaths
Lawrence – 105; 1 death
Leake – 447; 12 deaths
Lee – 165; 7 deaths
Leflore – 273; 34 deaths
Lincoln – 270; 29 deaths
Lowndes – 230; 9 deaths
Madison – 745; 25 deaths
Marion – 115; 9 deaths
Marshall – 81; 3 deaths
Monroe – 265; 25 deaths
Montgomery – 85; 1 death
Neshoba – 707; 42 deaths
Newton – 282; 4 deaths
Noxubee – 191; 6 deaths
Oktibbeha – 253; 14 deaths
Panola – 84; 3 deaths
Pearl River – 211; 31 deaths
Perry – 51; 3 deaths
Pike – 204; 11 deaths
Pontotoc – 43; 3 deaths
Prentiss – 51; 3 deaths
Quitman – 30
Rankin – 446; 8 deaths
Scott – 661; 12 deaths
Sharkey – 7
Simpson – 102
Smith – 153; 11 deaths
Stone – 31
Sunflower – 85; 3 deaths
Tallahatchie – 29; 1 death
Tate – 89; 1 death
Tippah – 76; 11 deaths
Tishomingo – 34
Tunica – 56; 3 deaths
Union – 85; 7 deaths
Walthall – 61
Warren – 181; 10 deaths
Washington – 191; 7 deaths
Wayne – 224; 2 deaths
Webster – 67; 3 deaths
Wilkinson – 85; 9 deaths
Winston – 121; 1 death
Yalobusha – 96; 6 deaths
Yazoo – 286; 4 deaths

Mississippi Department of Health has a hotline open 24 hours, 7 days a week for any coronavirus-related questions: 877-978-6453.

Police: Woman broke up fight between teen son, man by using car; hits son by mistake

By Jacob Gallant | June 2, 2020 at 9:48 AM CDT – Updated June 2 at 3:04 PM

VICKSBURG, Miss. (WLBT) – Vicksburg police arrested a woman accused of using her car to break up a fight involving her son.

Officers were called to the scene on Williams Road on Monday evening. When they arrived, they found a 13-year-old in the street, injured after being hit by a car. A 20-year-old was also hit and had minor injuries.

Police said the two had been fighting in the street when the mother of the 13-year-old tried to break up the fight by hitting the man with her car. Instead, he moved out of the way and she hit her son instead.

The teen was rushed to the hospital via ambulance. His condition is unknown.

The mother, 36-year-old Katherine Upshire, was arrested for aggravated assault. She’s due in court Tuesday.

Man stalked ATM, ambushed and killed woman, police say

By Jacob Gallant | June 2, 2020 at 7:55 AM CDT – Updated June 2 at 1:04 PM

MERIDIAN, Miss. (WLBT/WTOK) – Police have arrested and charged a suspect in the death of a woman killed at an ATM on Highway 39 North in Meridian early Monday.

Interim Police Chief Charles Coleman says detectives have arrested 18-year-old Tanelius Burks on a charge of capital murder.

Coleman says it appears Burks staked out the bank location from a hiding place and ambushed and shot the victim around 1 a.m.

Investigators say Burks then threw the woman out of her car and drove away. The woman’s vehicle was later recovered at the Hillview apartment complex in Marion.

Coleman says the victim’s body was discovered later in the morning.

“There was a (customer) at the bank who came in to make a deposit early this morning, and as he drove in, he observed the young lady lying on the parking lot of the bank,” Coleman said.

Meridian police officer suspended for allegedly using racial slur

By Jacob Gallant | June 2, 2020 at 7:59 AM CDT – Updated June 2 at 10:31 AM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT/WTOK) – A Meridian police officer is currently suspended with pay after allegedly calling a fellow officer a racial slur.

Officer Joey Lawn is accused of calling a black officer the n-word. Lawn is a K-9 supervisor who has been with MPD for over ten years.

Interim Police Chief Charles Coleman said the alleged incident happened in 2018 and recently resurfaced.

“The incident occurred while our K-9 unit was training in Northport, Alabama, in 2018. It resurfaced in February of 2020, causing some workplace friction,” said Coleman.

Coleman said Lawn will remain suspended until the investigation is completed.

Jackson libraries begin to reopen Wednesday

By Jacob Gallant | June 2, 2020 at 7:09 AM CDT – Updated June 3 at 9:15 AM

JACKSON, Miss. (WLBT) – Jackson Hinds Library System will begin reopening its libraries this week.

The branches will open on a staggered schedule to allow staff to learn how to handle new precautions related to COVID-19.

Eudora Welty Library will open first on Wednesday, June 3.

The other branches will follow this schedule:

Quisenberry Library – June 5
Willie Morris Library – June 8
Medgar Evers Library – June 11
Margaret Walker Alexander Library – June 16
Ella Bess Austin Library – June 23
Raymond Public Library – June 25

The new modular library for Beverly J. Brown Library in Byram will open in its relocated space behind Byram City Hall on July 1. The newly-renovated Fannie Lou Hamer Library will follow on July 8.

The openings for smaller county libraries in Bolton, Edwards and Utica will be announced at a later date.

Two libraries in Jackson are awaiting repairs and will not open yet: Richard Wright Library and Bolden Moore Library. The Richard Wright Library is in need of HVAC repairs and plumbing work, and the Bolden Moore Library need HVAC work.

Due to social distancing, many portions of the library will be inaccessible. This includes half of the public computers, study areas and lounge furniture.

Customers will be required to wear masks, take a temperature check, use hand sanitizer and answer a short COVID-19 questionnaire before entering the library.

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