Long-simmering discord between Vicksburg’s police chief and the director of the Vicksburg Housing Authority broke into the open Tuesday when VHA commissioners were advised to exert more authority.

Chief Tommy Moffett asked the oversight panel if members knew former VHA maintenance supervisor Charles Jones Jr., facing cocaine trafficking charges, has been “coming and going on housing authority property at his pleasure” since being released from Warren County Jail on Dec. 23 on a $250,000 bond.

“If you are not aware, I am making you aware,” Moffett said.

Longtime executive director Jim Stirgus Sr., a former superintendent of education, is not charged or implicated in the case with Jones. He said he was shocked when Jones was arrested and still has a hard time believing his trusted friend and former employee is a drug dealer.

“I just can’t believe it. That boy’s had a lot of chances to do a whole lot of damage to us financially and he never has,” Stirgus said today. “If he is guilty, then my heart is broken, but I swear I don’t” believe it.

Moffett has said it took years to make the case against Jones and, all the while, Stirgus was complaining that police weren’t doing enough to keep narcotics out of the 430 homes and apartments the VHA manages. Stirgus said he has formally apologized.

“He’s nothing but a liar,” said Stirgus of Moffett after Tuesday’s meeting. “He’s a loose cannon, and he’s saying all of these things about other people to keep the public from looking at the kind of job he is doing. How many unsolved murders do we have? How many unsolved robberies? He hasn’t done a single thing about them.”

Moffett approached the commissioners, who employ Stirgus, with the message that they were out of touch and asked them to cooperate with police as they continue to investigate Jones’ case.

Jones, 45, 924 Bowmar Ave., had worked for the VHA since 1983 and since 1991 was in charge of maintenance, purchasing and receiving. He was arrested by Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics agents and local officers on Dec. 19. Police allege he was in possession of 2.2 pounds of cocaine delivered through the mail to the VHA administrative office at 113 Elizabeth Circle.

Authorities seized five vehicles, a motorcycle, a dune buggy and about $80,000 in unopened or unused merchandise from his home following the arrest. While the MBN is the primary agency on the case, Moffett said police are investigating whether the merchandise found at his home was stolen from the housing authority.

Stirgus said to his knowledge Jones had been at the VHA administrative office only once since bonding out of jail, to pick up a W-2 tax form. When asked by Commissioner David Speyerer if Jones had been on the property more than once, Moffett said “yes.” He later added that Jones has not only been on VHA property multiple times since his arrest, but he also has used a trailer owned by the housing authority. 

Commissioners also were offered a chance to hear from another former VHA manager, Rita Cutley, who said she was fired Feb. 9 and intends to file a lawsuit. She protested that she had properly asked to be on the agenda and said she was fired in retaliation for cooperation with investigators.

Moffett, who was not on the meeting agenda held the floor for about 30 minutes, asking about such things as VHA policies for awarding contracts to family members and dealing with fired employees. He also wanted to know why Jones would be allowed on VHA property, but Cutley was told she would be arrested for trespassing if she tried to pick up paychecks and personal belongings.

Stirgus eventually asked, “What’s the big deal?” when Moffett continued to ask the board about Jones’ being allowed on VHA property, while the commissioners agreed Jones should be arrested for trespassing if he is found on VHA property again.

Otherwise, Commissioner Mary Ruth Jones told Moffett she resented his claim that the commissioners “are in a different world” when it comes to understanding VHA operations. “You seem to be casting aspersions on the board and implying we don’t know what’s going on,” Jones said.

While Moffett said it was not his intention to insult the commission, he maintained it appears they do not know what goes on at housing authority property.

“The board of commissioners is out of touch. The only information they get is provided by Mr. Stirgus, and it is evident that he provides them with misinformation,” he said, adding he plans to get on the agenda and address the commissioners again in March.

Speyerer told Moffett the commissioners have an understanding of housing authority operations, but have had no reason to interfere with Stirgus’ handling of daily operations.

“We at the commission, we try to follow the policy faithfully, but the day-to-day operations are handled by Mr. Stirgus. We don’t micromanage him. We don’t get into his business,” he said.

Grand jury action is pending in Charles Jones’ case.

In addition to Speyerer and Jones, members of the commission and at Tuesday’s meeting, are Carolyn Dent and Ella Lee. The fifth position is vacant.

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Contact Steve Sanoski at ssanoski@vicksburgpost.com.