Crime Watch

The Northside Sun reports on recent crime in Belhaven.

Jackson Police are still searching for the suspects involved in a recent string of auto burglaries in a Northside community. On June 10, police responded to the corner of Jefferson and Carlisle streets after a security firm told them two suspects had been seen breaking into vehicles in a gated community.

Precinct Four Cmdr. Kenneth Goodrum said Securitas officers saw the pair inside a gated apartment complex. When they spotted the alleged crooks, they jumped the iron fence and fled the scene on foot.

The suspects, he said, are described as a black male and white male. After the two left the apartment complex at Carlisle, they continued their spree of auto break-ins along several Belhaven streets. Police spotted broken car windows in vehicles on Belhaven Street, Peachtree Street and Arlington Street, he said.

The burglaries occurred between 3 and 4:30 a.m. last Tuesday.

Goodrum said residents should continue to use caution to prevent auto burglaries. First, remove all electronic devices from the vehicle, make sure no valuables are left in the car, and make sure keys aren’t left in the car.

Residents are also urged not to park on the streets, if at all possible.

Read the full story here: Belhaven hit by auto burglars; no arrests yet

In the latest neighborhood news e-mail from Margaret Cupples we have this message from GBSA president John Lewis:

GBSA is expanding security patrols from midnight until 6 a.m. from now until the end of August. There will now be TWO Security patrol officers and cars patrolling during that time. This will be in addition to our Hinds County Sheriff's Deputy Reserve patrols. With older kids out of school and an apparent increase in criminal activity in other parts of the city, GBSA is taking this precautionary measure to target the times when it appears criminal activity has increased. It is still VITAL that everyone in the neighborhood be aware of any questionable activity and that they contact the SECURITAS patrol officer immediately. This includes problems in both Laurel and Belhaven Parks. The number to the patrol car is 601-720-6452. GBSA would also like to welcome two new residents in our neighborhood, the new manager of the Jackson Office of SECURITAS and one of the new coordinators of the Hinds County Sheriff's Deputy Reserve patrols. We welcome these new neighbors and the increased level of security awareness they will bring to our neighborhood. Faithful members are the reason GBSA can afford to respond to security needs, before they become problems. We appreciate all of our members and encourage any neighbor who is not a member, to join GBSA today! Call 601-353-0800 for more information.

Barrett-Simon Robbery Update

WLBT reports: A $200,000 bond has been set for John Mangum Jr, accused of robbing Jackson Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon and her husband.

The Clarion Ledger reports: "Margaret Barrett-Simon said Thursday she never positively identified John Wayne Mangum Jr. as the person who robbed her and her husband outside their Belhaven home June 9. She said she told authorities the person in the picture had facial features similar to the robber. Barrett-Simon said neither she nor her husband has been asked by police to come down and try to identify Mangum, who was arrested Tuesday on two counts of armed robbery. 'We believe if we see him in person, we could tell if he is the one,' Barrett-Simon said. Barrett-Simon said also the person who robbed them appeared to be about 5-foot-10 in height, whereas Mangum appears to be shorter from what she has seen in television reports....Police are looking for another suspect who may have been involved in the robbery, Scott said Thursday."

But another Ledger report says, "Jackson police say they have enough evidence against the suspect in the robbery of City Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon despite her statement she never positively identified him. Police Department spokesman Sgt. Jeffrey Scott said the reason Barrett-Simon is uneasy is because the man she chose in the photo lineup, John Wayne Mangum Jr., had just gotten a haircut. 'At the time of the robbery, he had an Afro,' Scott said. 'But when he found out we were looking for him, he went into a barber shop.'

Margaret Barrett Robbery Update

A suspect has been arrested in the armed robbery of Margaret Barrett-Simon.

The Clarion Ledger reports: "John Wayne Mangum, 20, is being held in the Hinds County Detention Center without bond, charged with two counts of armed robbery, according to the Police Department. Police arrested Mangum after Barrett-Simon picked him out of a photo lineup....Mangum was arrested in March on a misdemeanor marijuana charge and in 2005 on a felony receiving stolen property charge, according to court records. Both cases are pending."

WAPT and WLBT both have reports as well.

Barrett-Simon Robbery

Police have released a sketch of the man who robbed Margaret Barrett-Simon on Saturday.

With rumors abounding that the robbery might have been for intimidation or shock purposes to affect her decisions on the council, a WLBT report says:

Jackson Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon says the man who robbed her and her husband al at gunpoint outside their Belhaven home Saturday was not your typical armed robber. "Almost as an afterthought he said he wanted my purse," she says.

But Barrett-Simon won't go so far as to say it might have been orchestrated. "I'll let the law enforcement officers determine that. What we did come to believe, after thinking through this, is robbery was not the primary motive."

Meanwhile, the Clarion Ledger reports that the Belhaven neighborhood is stepping up private security:

Residents of Jackson's Belhaven neighborhood are stepping up private patrol hours following the weekend armed robbery of City Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon. The Greater Belhaven Security Association has asked Securitas International Security Service to double its daytime hours because residents say more crimes are being committed when homeowners are away at work or running errands.

Cory Wilson who is running to represent the Belhaven area in the State House of Representatives (H66) has some interesting ideas to fight Jackson crime. He wants to establish a Capital Security and Economic Development District:

Wilson’s proposed District would have its own police force (a strengthened Capitol Police), designated judicial resources, and funding for infrastructure and beautification. The District would include areas around the Fairgrounds, the State Capitol Complex, UMC, and other state facilities, many of which are located in and around District 66.

Wilson’s proposed District would allow the State to compensate Jackson for tax-exempt state and non-profit properties through extra law enforcement. JPD would be freed up to patrol in our neighborhoods. Our overburdened justice system would be reinforced to speed up and increase convictions. The proposal also includes resources to make sure that once criminals are caught, they stay in jail. Wilson’s proposed District would help create a real deterrent to criminals and make Jackson’s assets as the state capital stronger.

Couple of Things

Orley Hood writes about the Belhaven neighborhood in context of the Barrett robbery.

One way to avoid the crime, go online. Belhaven College now has online classes.

Belhaven councilwoman robbed at shotgun point

Jackson Councilwoman Margaret Barrett-Simon and her husband were robbed at shotgunpoint on their porch in the 1300 block of Hazel Street at 2pm on Saturday. The Clarion Ledger and WLBT both provide more details.

Security

Today's Clarion Ledger has this article about neighborhoods hiring private security. An excerpt:

Other neighborhoods with long-established private security, such as Eastover and Belhaven, also have upgraded their level of service to full-time, with at least one guard on duty at all times. Many residents said the consistent presence of a guard makes them feel more secure.

John Lewis, president of the Belhaven Security Association, said residents probably make seven to eight calls for security a day. But that doesn't mean they are all in regards to serious crimes.

"Many are house checks or walk-ins (when a guard escorts a homeowner inside)," he said.

But other common calls are for car burglaries and suspicious people. About six months ago, a call about two men walking down a Belhaven street - one was carrying a chainsaw - resulted in the recovery of stolen property, Lewis said. "The guard quizzed them and found they had picked (the chainsaw) up out of somebody's garage," he said.

Juror #4

Juror Number Four in Mayor Frank Melton's trial is a doctor from Belhaven, age 52.

Stabbing at Keifer's

There was a stabbing at Keifer's on Sunday and police arrested a St. Mary Street man over the incident.

More on the couple from Peachtree

The Clarion Ledger: woman, son face murder charges

WLBT: Mother, son affested in double murder (with video)

Arrests in murder of Peachtree couple

The Clarion Ledger is reporting the arrest of two suspects in the murder of a couple from Peachtree Street.