Around Mississippi: Arrests made in casino robberies, former officer dies in motorcycle wreck

Actor, musician and Hinds County Sheriff's Department Reserve Deputy Dan Aykroyd checks out the interior of a new patrol car he donated to the sheriff's department Thursday, June 5, 2014, at the dealership in Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/The Clarion-Ledger, Rick Guy)

The Associated Press

Actor, musician and Hinds County Sheriff's Department Reserve Deputy Dan Aykroyd checks out the interior of a new patrol car he donated to the sheriff's department Thursday, June 5, 2014, at the dealership in Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/The Clarion-Ledger, Rick Guy)
Actor, musician and Hinds County Sheriff’s Department Reserve Deputy Dan Aykroyd checks out the interior of a new patrol car he donated to the sheriff’s department Thursday, June 5, 2014, at the dealership in Jackson, Miss. (AP Photo/The Clarion-Ledger, Rick Guy)

Here are some news and notes from around Mississippi:

In Tunica, Tunica County deputies have arrested a third man in connection with a series of recent robberies at area casinos.

Sheriff’s department Cmdr. Cedric Davis tells The Commercial Appeal 54-year-old Johnny Clark was arrested Friday in Michigan after deputies received a tip.

Clark is awaiting extradition.

Davis says 43-year-old Anthony West is charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery, two counts of being a felon in possession of a firearm and possession of a controlled substance. He is being held on $780,000 bond.

Davis says 59-year-old Frank Pope is charged with three counts of conspiracy to commit armed robbery. He is being held on $60,000 bond.

Since April, two robberies occurred at Bally’s and one at the Fitz Tunica Casino.

In Hernando, former Southaven Mayor Greg Davis’ trial on embezzlement charges is scheduled to open, but his lawyers are again trying to get it moved out of DeSoto County.

Circuit Judge Robert Chamberlin has scheduled jury selection Monday. He said in February that he wants to see if an impartial jury can be found in the county.

Attorney Steve Farese argues that a recent court ruling makes a fair trial less likely, the Commercial Appeal  reports.

A county judge ruled May 20 that Davis must repay the city $73,000 spent on such things as clothes, expensive meals and trips.

“This decision, so close to the pending trial date of June 9, further exacerbates the defendant’s ability to seek a fair trial in a county where he has been constantly maligned for the last two years by the press and community for his decisions while mayor and his sexual orientation,” Farese wrote in the motion filed last week.

In Edwards, authorities say a former Jackson police officer has died in a motorcycle accident.

Mississippi Highway Patrol Trooper Eric Henry tells The Clarion-Ledger 49-year-old Richard “Fitz” Polk was riding his motorcycle on Highway Mississippi 22 just east of I-20 near Edwards when a van turned into his path around 2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Henry says Polk was pronounced dead at the scene, and a passenger, Della Brumfield, was taken to the hospital for treatment.

Henry identified the driver of the van as 70-year-old Doris Stamps.

He says Brumfield was still in a local hospital Sunday with broken bones. Stamps had minor injuries but was treated and released.

In Natchez, plans for the renovation of the Natchez railroad depot could be ready for review by the Mississippi Department of Transportation next month.

Community Development Director James Johnston tells The Natchez Democrat Smith Seckman Reid, the company with which the city has contracted, is approximately 90 percent finished with plans and specifications for the restoration of the historic depot on Broadway Street.

MDOT has awarded the city a total of $750,000 for the restoration project.

Johnston has said the city will provide a $125,000 match for the $500,000.

He says the city will also provide a $61,875 match for the $247,500, bringing the total funding for the project to $934,375.

The city plans to restore the depot by Jan. 1, 2016, the beginning of the city’s tricentennial celebration.