More on the District Attorney’s office closing over 70 cases involving the VPD

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — The District Attorney’s Office was forced to close over 70 case files dating back to 2021 due to the Vicksburg Police Department not completing its part of the investigation. All of those cases date from 2021 to 2024 during the tenure of Police Commissioner George Flaggs and Police Chief Penny Jones.

District Attorney Ricky Smith confirmed that his office has closed over 70 files in the past year. Some of the cases date back to 2021. “There are a lot of reasons it can take time to get a case file completed. The crime lab, witnesses not wanting to talk…” However, Smith went on to verify that most of these cases were closed because the VPD did not complete the file and submit it to the District Attorney’s office.

The 6th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution guarantees certain rights to citizens. Those rights include the right to a speedy trial if arrested and accused of a crime. Because of those protections, a system has been established to safeguard citizens while ensuring sufficient time to fully investigate a case.

When law enforcement officers make an arrest, an incident number is assigned, and the case is investigated. The accused person, once arrested, will have an initial appearance before a judge. This is a procedure in which the judge informs the person of the charges against them. From there, the accused either obtains legal representation or is assigned representation.

An investigator with the law enforcement agency compiles the evidence, puts it in a case file, and sends it to the District Attorney’s office. That office then reviews the investigation, addresses any questions or concerns, and prepares the case for presentation to the Grand Jury. Based on the evidence presented, the Grand Jury decides whether there is enough evidence to require a fellow citizen to face charges before a judge and/or jury.

A Grand Jury is a group of citizens who decide whether there is sufficient evidence to charge a person with a crime. If there is, that person then has the right to a trial or to enter into a plea agreement with the DA’s Office. Over 90% of cases are resolved through plea agreements, with a few going to trial. A small percentage of cases go to a jury trial. In Warren County, 80 percent of the DA’s cases come from VPD.

One of the cases dismissed by the District Attorney was Alvontae White’s. His case file from 2023, CR-23-0194, was dismissed because the Vicksburg Police Department did not complete it under the leadership of Police Commissioner and Mayor George Flaggs and Chief Penny Jones. While out on bail from those 2023 charges, White allegedly committed a drive-by shooting on I-20 near Halls Ferry in January of 2025.

The Vicksburg Daily News requested a statement from Vicksburg Police Chief Larry Burns. He responded:  

“The department fully recognizes that all individuals are entitled to due process, and that right should never be hindered. The District Attorney’s Office must also have complete and accurate information in order to effectively carry out its responsibilities within the judicial process.

Under current leadership, the Vicksburg Police Department is committed to transparency, accountability, and fairness. Going forward, departmental processes and procedures will continue to reflect those principles, with an emphasis on collaboration, consistency, and ensuring cases are handled appropriately at every stage of the process in a way that is fair to victims, defendants, and the community.”