A Vicksburg police officer was out on bond this morning after being charged with burglary of a tour boat docked at City Front.

L. Michael Smith, 27, 8606 Oak Ridge Road, was arrested Monday at police headquarters when he arrived for his shift as a patrolman, Lt. Bobby Stewart said.

Smith is accused in the theft of a 12-pack of beer from The Sweet Olive at about 5 p.m. Sunday.

Stewart said Smith, who was not on duty at the time, and as many as four other people were in a boat on the Yazoo Diversion Canal when they stopped at the docked tour boat. At least some of them entered the boat and the beer was taken, Stewart said.

“Being there during and after makes you a participant,” is all Stewart would say this morning of Smith’s involvement.

Though no other arrests had been made, Stewart said this morning, the names of other potential suspects are known to investigators, who tracked the group on information from witnesses.

Smith has been employed at the Vicksburg Police Department for about a year, Stewart said, and has been placed on administrative leave until further action from Chief Walter Armstrong or the City of Vicksburg Board of Mayor and Aldermen.

Smith was released on a $10,000 bond.

The tour boat makes daily excursions from City Front, offering up to about 40 passengers a ride on the Yazoo Diversion Canal and Mississippi River.

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Contact Matthew Breazeale at mbreazeale@vicksburgpost.com