Sisters charged in check-cashing scam

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Two Vicksburg sisters were charged Monday in a stolen check-cashing scam at a local bank, police Lt. Bobby Stewart said today.

Jalila Barnes, 17, 1512 Spring St., cashed a stolen check at Regions Bank, 3405 Halls Ferry Road about 9:30 a.m., Stewart said.

About 4 p.m., Jamila Barnes, 20, same address, attempted to cash another stolen check at the Regions Bank branch at 825 Crawford St., he said.

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Police were alerted and arrested the sisters, who were together, at the Crawford Street branch.

Both were personal checks made out for $800, Stewart said.

Jalila Barnes was charged with uttering a forgery. She was released from the Warren County Jail Monday night on $5,000 bond.

Jamila Barnes was charged with attempting to utter a forgery, and was released on $2,500 bond.

Vicksburg man jailed in domestic disturbance

A Vicksburg man involved in a domestic disturbance Saturday night was in the Warren County Jail this morning, charged with possession of a firearm by a felon.

Zane R. Grissom Sr., 40, 2521 Pearl St., was in possession of a Remington .22-caliber rifle. A records check by Vicksburg police responding to the disturbance showed him to have a felony conviction, which was verified by police Monday, Lt. Bobby Stewart said.

Grissom’s bond was set at $5,000.

Utica shooting leaves one injured, one jailed

Charges are pending against a Utica man involved in a shooting Monday at a Utica gas station.

Keith Lee, 31, and Ondre Taylor, 29, both of Utica, were at the Town and Country convenience store, 11640 Mississippi 27, at about 4 p.m. when, according to the Hinds County Sheriff’s Department, Lee shot Taylor in the leg.

Authorities said the shooting stemmed from a dispute between the two men on Martin Road that continued outside the store. Interviews with witnesses will determine the charges.

Lee was held at the Raymond Detention Center, Hinds County Sheriff’s Department spokesman Steve Pickett said this morning.

Taylor was hospitalized but was released, Pickett said.

Local man injured in wreck on Mississippi 27

A Vicksburg man was injured Sunday afternoon in a wreck at Mississippi 27 and Hot Cat Road, Vicksburg fire department records said today.

James Cessna, 60, 85 Hot Cat Road, was in a vehicle that was rear-ended by another. Cessna was treated and released from  River Region Medical Center. No further details about the wreck or Cessna’s condition were available this morning.

Long Lake home destroyed by fire

An unoccupied home at 353 Lake Shore Drive, off Long Lake Road, burned to the ground in an early morning fire, said Culkin Volunteer Fire Department Assistant Chief Jerry Briggs.

“It was a total loss. By the time we got the call it was a pile of ashes, and there was nothing we could do. It was just about out,” said Briggs, who said the call came in around 8:45 a.m. “Apparently there was nobody out there this morning to see it.”

One engine from the Culkin Volunteer Fire Department responded to the call and quickly extinguished the smoldering home. Briggs said this morning it was difficult to estimate when the fire started, and did not know who reported  the blaze. The cause of the fire is under investigation. Briggs said the owner of the home appeared to have been in the process of remodeling the home.

Pickup, jewelry missing in city burglaries

A vehicle theft and a residential burglary were reported in the city Monday, said police Lt. Bobby Stewart.

A pickup was reported stolen Monday at 12:30 p.m. from the 4200 block of Halls Ferry Road. The black 1992 Chevrolet 1500 pickup was valued at $2,000, and had Mississippi tag number WA3596.

A residence in the 1100 block of First North was reported burglarized at 7:47 p.m. Stolen were a 22-inch gold herringbone chain valued at $250, a gold tennis bracelet valued at $150 and a diamond heart-shaped bracelet valued at $480.

An attempted robbery took place early Sunday, Stewart added, at a residence in the 1400 block of Bowmar Avenue. The victim said two teens knocked on his door around 3 a.m. and demanded money.

One was wearing black pants and a gray, hooded jacket and had what appeared to be a .22-caliber rifle.

The other was wearing blue jeans and a light-blue, hooded jacket and had a gun of unknown type.

One shot was fired but no one was injured, and nothing was taken. The attackers fled on foot.