The Vicksburg man who was arrested and later freed on a murder charge in the killing of a retired police officer has been arrested on a felony shoplifting charge.

Tyler Lee Smith, 51, 3112 N. Washington St., was arrested at 8:56 a.m. Saturday at The Klondyke, 100 N. Washington St., and charged with third offense shoplifting, Sgt. Sandra Williams said.

Smith is accused of taking a pack of peanut butter/cheese crackers valued at 50 cents and a pack of Pecan Spinwheels Sweet Rolls valued at 75 cents from the restaurant, Williams said.

He was in the Issaquena County Jail pending an initial court appearance this morning.

Smith had been freed since Jan. 29 when the Warren County grand jury declined to indict him in the killing and robbery of retired Vicksburg Police Assistant Chief Walter Cole 16 months earlier.

Local man jailed for meth, paraphernalia

A Vicksburg man was in the Warren County Jail this morning on drug charges.

Hunter T. Ashley, 18, 96 Ashley St., was arrested at 2:40 p.m. Saturday by the Mississippi Department of Wildlife, Fisheries & Parks and charged with possession of methamphetamine and possession of paraphernalia, jail records said.

He was being held without bond.

Fire damages Vicksburg home

A Vicksburg home was damaged by fire late Saturday night.

Vicksburg fire inspector Leslie Decareaux said a neighbor reported at 10:16 p.m. that flames were coming from a home at 4206 Halls Ferry Road. She said the fire, which began in the kitchen, was accidental. No one was home and no injuries were reported.

TVs, purses missing in weekend thefts

Three residential burglaries and two auto burglaries were reported in the city during the weekend.

An assortment of jewelry valued at $625 was reported missing at 1:02 p.m. Sunday from a home in the 1200 block of Harrison Street.

A 25-inch RCA TV valued at $300, a 25-inch Sharp TV valued at $300 and a 19-inch Apex TV valued at $150 were reported missing at 10:42 p.m. Sunday from a home in the 70 block of Spout Spring Road.

A TV valued at $250 was reported missing at 5:28 p.m. Sunday from a home in the 20 block of King Street.

A black Prada purse valued at $300 was reported missing at 3:54 p.m. Sunday from a 1991 Honda Accord in the 2400 block of Oak Street.

A purse and its contents were reported missing at 9:18 p.m. Friday from a 1998 Mercury in the 4000 block of Washington Street.

Child hit by car in fair condition

A 10-year-old Vicksburg boy hit by a Chevrolet Blazer Friday afternoon was in fair condition this morning at University Medical Center in Jackson, said spokesman Peggy Wagner.

Reginald Sims, 1322 Spring St., was crossing Clay Street with his younger brother at Fifth North Street around 3:30 p.m., Reginald’s mother, Felicia Hill, said today.

The driver of the Blazer, Jeannette Patterson, age and address unavailable, told Vicksburg patrolman Curtis Judge, she did not see the children. Judge did not say if Patterson was cited.

Reginald was taken to River Region Medical Center. His mother said he underwent surgery there Friday to remove his spleen and then was airlifted to UMC.

At UMC he had a second surgery Sunday to repair his broken right leg, Hill said. He also was being treated for other injuries in the intensive care unit, but expected to make a full recovery, his mother said.

Two others injured in separate wrecks Friday were also at UMC this morning.

Alexus Mitchell, 8, address unavailable, was a passenger in a Chevrolet Ventura van carrying day-care students on North Washington Street when it was hit from behind by an 18-wheeler. Alexus was in fair condition, Wagner said.

Also, Lakendra McGrew, 23, 6006 Pattison-Hermanville Road, Pattison, who was driving a 2009 Nissan Altima involved in a wreck on U.S. 80 at a private driveway, was in good condition today, Wagner said.

Man cut in fight remains at UMC

A Vicksburg man cut after an argument Saturday evening was in good condition at University Medical Center this morning, said spokesman Peggy Wagner.

Stanley Harris, age and address unavailable, was stabbed by Terrance Copeland, 51, 1210 Roosevelt St., police Chief Walter Armstrong said.

Copeland was arrested Saturday night and charged with aggravated assault. He was being held in the Issaquena County Jail pending an initial court hearing this morning.