Vicksburg Woman alleges assault by police officer following arrest

VICKSBURG, Miss. (VDN) — A Vicksburg woman claims she was assaulted by a city police officer while in custody at the Vicksburg Police Department on Saturday night.

The woman, identified only as Erica, said the incident occurred after she was arrested following a traffic stop. According to Erica, she was pulled over around 10:45 p.m. near the Kangaroo gas station across from Beechwood Restaurant by a Lieutenant, who informed her she was driving approximately 15 miles over the speed limit.

Erica said she admitted to having consumed a few alcoholic drinks earlier at a family gathering and was allowed by the Lieutenant to make a phone call to have her sister come pick up her elementary-school-aged son—who was in the car at the time—before another officer arrived on the scene. The Lieutenant, she clarified, is not the officer accused of assaulting her.

After being handcuffed, Erica said she was transported to the Vicksburg Police Department by the second officer. While in a holding cell, she alleges an argument broke out as the officer placed shackles on her legs. She claims that while her chest was on the ground, the officer forced her head into the floor, causing her lip to bust and bruising her forehead.

Paramedics were called to treat her injuries, Erica said. She was later released on bond that same night.

“If they thought I was intoxicated, why would they even let me leave?” Erica questioned.

She said the name of the accused officer does not appear on her arrest report, which only lists the Lieutenant.

Vicksburg Police Chief Penny Jones said that no Internal Affairs report has been made at this time by Erica.

According to the City of Vicksburg’s website: “Formal complaints should be directed to the Internal Affairs Division, located at the City Hall Annex Building, 1415 Walnut Street, Vicksburg, Mississippi, 601-631-2996. Office hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

If the office is closed, you may still file a complaint with any Police Department supervisor who will then forward your complaint to the appropriate party.”

The Vicksburg Daily News reached out to Mayor Willis Thompson, the city’s newly elected mayor and police commissioner, on Sunday, July 6, regarding the allegations. Mayor Thompson stated: “I am not aware of this incident. I will investigate this matter first before making a statement.”

Mayor Thompson did not respond to any follow up requests for information.

No further information is available at this time.

Editors Note: The story has been updated to reflect the fact that Erica’s elementary-school-aged son was in the car at the time of the initial stop, to better clarify why a phone call was allowed a the scene.

Also for better clarity, verbiage from the City of Vicksburg’s website page regarding Internal Affairs complaints has also been included.