Police review use of force after downtown Vicksburg arrests

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — The Vicksburg Police Department is reviewing an incident that occurred early Sunday, April 20, at the intersection of Crawford and Washington streets, following the circulation of a video on social media.

In a statement issued Thursday, Police Chief Penny Jones said officers responded to a disturbance downtown after all nearby businesses had closed for the night. Officers reportedly gave multiple lawful commands for individuals to leave the area.

According to the department, two individuals with active warrants were taken into custody after being given several opportunities to comply. One of them allegedly resisted arrest, struck an officer in the face, and spat on him. The officer sustained visible injuries and deployed a department-issued Taser to regain control of the situation.

“This use of force was documented and remains under review in accordance with department policy,” Jones said.

One of the individuals arrested later filed a formal complaint with the department’s Internal Affairs Division on Monday, April 21. According to Jones, the complainant also posted a personal account of the incident on social media while the investigation was ongoing.

“As with any internal investigation, this process takes time to ensure fairness and a full review of all facts,” Jones said. “Despite requesting an investigation, the individual chose to share her personal account on social media while the process was still ongoing.”

In the statement, Jones reiterated that the Vicksburg Police Department remains committed to protecting all members of the community, ensuring that every encounter is handled with professionalism and respect.

“Our goal is for everyone to enjoy Vicksburg safely and be able to go home peacefully when the night ends, without the threat of violence or unnecessary confrontation,” she said.

The Vicksburg Daily News has reached out to the individual who filmed the incident, but had not received a response at the time of this writing.

Residents with questions or concerns are encouraged to contact the Vicksburg Police Department’s Internal Affairs Division.

Watch the video below: