A man the Vicksburg Police Department (VPD) says interfered with a traffic stop Friday afternoon and was subsequently arrested was not detained over the video itself, Police Chief Penny Jones said in a post to social media after the incident.

“On Friday, January 31, 2025, officers conducted a traffic stop involving a reckless driving incident,” Jones wrote on the VPD Facebook page. “During this stop, a second vehicle attempted to interfere with law enforcement’s efforts, leading to additional arrests. The Vicksburg Police Department is aware of video footage circulating on social media regarding the incident and understands the concerns expressed by members of the community.”

The video referred to by Jones shows VPD Deputy Chief of Police Troy Kimble appearing to handcuff a suspect on the ground outside of a vehicle before a man videoing the scene approaches telling officers the suspect can’t breathe. The man videoing is warned to stay back. The person videoing complies, but continues to engage verbally with the officers, directly accusing Kimble of killing people before Kimble jogs to approach him and the video ends amid what appears to be a scuffle.

Jones said the video does not show the entire encounter and warned the public against taking the images out of context.

“We take all situations involving officer conduct seriously,” she wrote in the the post. “The department is reviewing the circumstances surrounding this incident, as we do with all incidents that involve the use of force. While we understand that emotions run high in these situations, it is important to allow the legal process to take its course. We ask the community to avoid rushing to judgment based solely on partial recordings that do not always capture the full context of an encounter.

“Our officers are trained to respond professionally under difficult circumstances. While words exchanged during tense moments can be provocative, law enforcement must remain focused on public safety and the rule of law. The best course of action for anyone who believes they have been treated unfairly is to comply with lawful orders and address concerns through proper legal channels.”

VPD has not yet identified any suspect involved in Friday’s incident, nor have they released any charges that may have been brought.

“As this case will proceed through the judicial system, we will not be providing further details on the evidence at this time,” Jones said. “However, we remain committed to transparency and accountability. We encourage open dialogue and continued partnership with our community to ensure safety and fairness for all.

“This young man was not arrested for recording/video. You have a right to record if you choose to, maintain a respectable distance. There is more to what took place prior to recording this video.”

This is a developing story. More information will be made available as it is uncovered.