Meridian Sees String of Violent Crimes

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Meridian Sees String of Violent Crimes

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Meridian, Miss.
Posted: 5:30 PM Aug 20, 2008
Last Updated: 5:30 PM Aug 20, 2008

10 comments

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Meridian has seen a string of high-profile, violent crimes in recent days.

They started with a pair of drive-by shootings last week, followed by a robbery north of Meridian where the suspect led police on a high-speed chase through town before being captured. The most recent was a convenience store homicide.

Despite that, during his regular news conference Wednesday, Mayor John Robert Smith said residents shouldn't be concerned that crime is on the rise here.

"Crime during the summer months in Meridian is down for '08, from '07. In fact for the year of '08, crime is down from 07," said Smith.

According to statistics from the police department, there have been five fewer robberies this year than in the same time frame last year.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Lauderdal county transplant Location: county on Aug 21, 2008 at 08:23 PM
MPD better get a handle on it quick. There's a lot of folks from out of town do business here and bad news travels fast these days.

Posted by: Steven on Aug 21, 2008 at 04:34 PM
My mom's neighbor on Poplar Springs Drive had one of her bedroom windows shattered by a gun shot last Saturday night. Boy, this is all nothing to worry about huh mayor?

Posted by: Jessica Location: Lauderdale County on Aug 21, 2008 at 04:07 PM
As a young mother of 2 small children, I no longer feel safe coming to meridian at night without my husband with me. It's a shame people are murdered just for a couple of bucks. I hope they catch the 2 people who murdered the innocent business man.Because of things like this, I don't feel safe in Meridian anymore.

Posted by: Sarah Location: Meridian on Aug 21, 2008 at 02:18 PM
Someone needs to commend the Meridian Police Department. They are keeping our citizens safe. They have a very dangerous job and they are over worked and underpaid. The sicko from Texas that was hiding here, that is amazing they caught him before he got to any of our children. THANKS MERIDIAN POLICE DEPARTMENT! I have a daughter that is 7, they possibly saved children from that man.

Posted by: s Location: park on Aug 21, 2008 at 08:55 AM
personally I resent the off handed remarks made about the men and women in uniform in this city. They are hard working people who get up everyday to put their lives on the line to save people who have nothing better to do than to criticize. That job is not easy and when you take into account the fact that most Meridian PD officers make on average maybe $12 per hour you realize what a truly thankless job it is... Is Meridian PD perfect? No... they are not... But thank god they are there still the same. As for the city... if they would spend less time on pet projects and more time on protection we'd all be better off...

Posted by: William Location: Stonewall on Aug 21, 2008 at 04:37 AM
I travel to meridian alot and you know,I do not see any police at times..maybe one and thats all.well,I'm glad I don't live in meridian because it's starting to be just like the real big cities,alot of crime....

Posted by: Maurice L Location: Meridian on Aug 20, 2008 at 09:43 PM
MPD couldn't find a goat in their trunk unless it was cute and wearing a skirt. This, like most violent crime in Meridian will never be solved and a killer will walk amoung us.

Posted by: Anonymous on Aug 20, 2008 at 07:58 PM
John Robert doesn't know a thing about crime but to deny it is there. Play with those number some more. I would hate to know I lived in Meridian or Lauderdale County.

Posted by: newly annexed Location: county resident on Aug 20, 2008 at 06:20 PM
What is Mayor Smith thinking? He can't protect the people in the city of Meridan and how is he planning to stretch the budget to hire more policemen to protect the new county residents. When a man is murdered in his place of business on a Tuesday night and no police patrol discovers this until the next day is a sad statement for police protection in the city of Meridian. A regular vigilant police patrol should have noticed the owners' absence during the night hours. God help the people in the county if this is what we have to look forward to.