[8/1/03]Cocaine was reportedly sold over the counter at Vicksburg’s newest McDonald’s Thursday, and Vicksburg Police Department officers say they were the customers. An employee was jailed.

“We went in and actually made a purchase,” said Capt. Mark Culbertson of the Vicksburg Police Department. He would not say how much of the drug was bought or how much was paid for it.

The arrest was made at the fast-food restaurant on Iowa Boulevard near its intersection with U.S. 61 South. It’s the same eatery honored for fund-raising efforts for the Jackson-based Ronald McDonald House. Also, manager Larry Chambliss was recognized in May as one of the top 1 percent McDonald’s employees nationally.

Chambliss declined comment after Tiffany Patrice Jackson, 23, Route 1 Box 24, Fayette, was taken into custody.

Jackson, charged with one count of sale of cocaine, was in the Warren County Jail on $10,000 bond.

“It’s devastating,” said shift manager Tamika Henderson. “She was a good worker. We didn’t expect anything like that to happen.”

The 2-year-old restaurant, at 2316 Iowa Blvd., is one of three McDonald’s in Vicksburg.