[11/07/02]A suspect has been arrested in the case of a Port Gibson liquor store manager found dead Monday night near the downtown store, Port Gibson Police Chief Calvin Jackson said.

David Small, 55, 2107 U.S. 61 North, Port Gibson, was found in a brush-covered hollow about 80 feet from where he worked, Big Dan’s, 904 Market St., at about 11:28, Jackson said. He said Small’s family had reported him missing Oct. 30 after he did not return home from work.

“We conducted a search of the surrounding area,” Jackson said. “We spread it out. We found him across the street, in a hollowed-out area where there are a whole lot of bushes.” Much kudzu is also growing in the area where the body was found, the chief said.

“It appears he was shot,” Claiborne County Sheriff Frank Davis said, adding that the case was awaiting coroner’s and autopsy reports.

Police officers and Claiborne County sheriff’s deputies began searching the area on foot on a tip received by the sheriff’s department.

Jackson did not identify the suspect, who he said was being held in the county detention center on a charge of fraudulently using a credit card that had been issued in Small’s name. He and Davis said the investigation into Small’s death was ongoing, and Davis said it was nearing completion.

“We’re still investigating the case,” Davis said. “We’re still trying to gather the evidence to charge somebody.” The sheriff added he expected charges to be brought in the fatality by Friday.

Jackson said Small was a long-time resident of Port Gibson, and that he was married to the former Ever Jean Green. Davis said Small was not originally from Port Gibson but had lived there a number of years. He reportedly had two grown children who lived elsewhere, Davis said.

“He was well-known in the community,” Jackson said of Small.