Clay attacks believed related, police say
Published 12:00 am Tuesday, January 5, 2010
The rape and robbery of a Vicksburg woman and the assault on a Wisconsin tourist blocks apart New Year’s Day might involve the same suspects.
Lt. Bobby Stewart, head of criminal investigations at the Vicksburg Police Department, said this morning he believes the cases are related because an irritant was sprayed in the face of the victim each time. He had said Monday that police did not know if the two crimes were related.
The woman told police she was walking in the 1300 block of Clay Street at 8 p.m. when two men sprayed her in the face, dragged her behind a building and raped her. The tourist, who had been paddling down the Mississippi River and was walking along Clay near Cherry about an hour later, said he also was sprayed in the face. The woman reported $30 was stolen; the man said nothing was missing.
Both were treated and released from River Region Medical Center.
Stewart said there were no witnesses to either attack.
A Vicksburg tourism official said Monday that he does not believe the assault on the tourist will affect visits to the city.
“I sincerely regret that anything happened to anyone visiting, but I do believe one isolated incident will not affect tourism in Vicksburg,” said Bill Seratt, executive director of the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau.
City man charged with cocaine sale
A Vicksburg man was in the Warren County Jail this morning charged with the sale of cocaine.
Jeremy Smith, 24, was arrested at 7:25 p.m. Monday in a convenience store parking lot at 3326 Clay St. after Vicksburg police recognized him from a warrant, said Lt. Bobby Stewart, chief of investigations. He was being held on a $10,000 bond.
Hermanville man nabbed in shooting
A Hermanville man was released from the Claiborne County Jail on a $5,000 bond Monday after being charged with shooting and injuring a Port Gibson man Sunday morning.
Ronnie Good, 34, is accused of shooting Lorenzo White, 28, 1009 Ross Lane, with what appeared to be a shotgun at the Pink Palace nightclub in Hermanville at 12:21 a.m., Claiborne County Sheriff Frank Davis said.
White was released from Claiborne County Hospital in Port Gibson after being treated for injuries to both legs, Davis said.
Good was arrested at 9:24 a.m. at his home at 4197 Old Highway 18 No. 4, Davis said.
No motive was given.
Wallet, GPS, phone among missing items
Cash and a wallet were missing in a home burglary reported in the 4700 block of North Washington Street this morning, Vicksburg police Lt. Bobby Stewart said.
At 4:55 a.m., a brown wallet valued at $10 and containing $280 cash were reported stolen.
A Garmin GPS valued at $180, an Ipod valued at $100, a Motorola cellphone valued at $150 and an RCA DVD player valued at $120 were reported stolen from an unlocked 2000 Chevrolet Malibu at 2:33 p.m. Monday.
Separately, during the New Year’s weekend, three residential burglaries were reported in the city during the New Year’s weekend.
A Nintendo Wii game system and five games valued at $500 were reported missing at 2:19 p.m. Friday from a home in the 2200 block of Pearl Street.
A Remington 12-gauge single-shot gun valued at $100 and a Remington 22-gauge single-shot gun valued at $100 were reported missing at 6:15 p.m. Saturday from a home in the 1100 block of South Street.
A Dell computer valued at $700 was reported missing at 9:12 p.m. Sunday from a home in the 2600 block of Roosevelt Avenue.
Pool table hit in lounge burglary
A business burglary was reported in the city on Friday, New Year’s Day.
Reported missing at 4:47 a.m. from the Old School Club, 2820 N. Washington St., was $10 in quarters from the pool table.
The window of the front door was damaged in the break-in, Lt. Bobby Stewart said.