[06/19/02]A former Vicksburg Police Department officer was arrested Tuesday and charged with embezzlement.

Malcolm Lilly, 30, 104 Washington St. in Crystal Springs, did not return police equipment issued to him after he was fired on May 5, the charge said. He was released later Tuesday after posting a $1,500 bond.

Police Chief Tommy Moffett said Lilly was told many times to return the equipment before the felony arrest warrant was issued. Moffett said a warning was sent through certified mail notifying Lilly he would be prosecuted if he did not turn in the equipment.

“He just refused to surrender items that had been issued to him by the city,” Moffett said.

Lilly called the charge unfair. He said he drove to Vicksburg to return the equipment last week, but the person who was supposed to accept it was on vacation. He said he has tried to return city property he used as an officer many times, but no one at the department could accept it.

“I’ve been coming over there and the clerk or someone would always be missing,” Lilly said.

The unreturned items include a .45 caliber pistol, two ammunition magazines for it, a flashlight, a police coat and a badge. Lilly, who had worked at the police department for about three years, said some of the equipment was in his patrol car, but it was cleaned out without his being present.

Moffett and City Clerk Walter Osborne said Lilly was terminated for misconduct.

Lilly, who is black, said he believes he was terminated due to his race.