Man who jumped in the Mississippi captured; had warrants

Published 10:32 am Wednesday, March 6, 2019

A Terry man managed to elude authorities for about six hours Wednesday before being apprehended in the railroad tunnel under Washington Street.

Vicksburg police Lt. Johnnie Edwards said Joseph Wesley Springs, 27, was taken into custody after he was seen running into the tunnel by a Warren County sheriff’s deputy. He was turned over to Mississippi Department of Corrections agents who had issued a warrant charging him with probation violation.

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He was taken to Merit Health River Region after his arrest for treatment of a head injury and complaints that his back and leg hurt.

The events leading to Springs’ capture began about 4:45 a.m. Wednesday when a Chevrolet Tahoe containing Springs and a woman were stopped for a traffic violation near the Circle K on Washington Street.

When officers tried to arrest Springs on the MDOC warrant, he ran off through the Circle K parking lot, jumped a fence and ran down a hill toward the casino.

After leaving the Circle K, Springs entered the casino and then ran out through the loading dock area, tossed his jacket, got on the property’s retaining wall and jumped in the river, where he hit his head.

Authorities continued their search until he was spotted entering the railroad tunnel and was arrested about 10:45 a.m.

The woman in the SUV was taken into custody for outstanding misdemeanor warrants.

In another case, Roderick Bennett, 36, was arrested on a charge of felony domestic violence after assaulting his wife and a juvenile during a disturbance at a home in the 4400 block of Halls Ferry Road.

He was released from the Warren County Jail on $30,000 bond.

About John Surratt

John Surratt is a graduate of Louisiana State University with a degree in general studies. He has worked as an editor, reporter and photographer for newspapers in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. He has been a member of The Vicksburg Post staff since 2011 and covers city government. He and his wife attend St. Paul Catholic Church and he is a member of the Port City Kiwanis Club.

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