News Briefs From Across The State
Hit by suspects vehicle
George County Sheriff Garry Welford was killed Wednesday afternoon while laying spike strips on U.S. Highway 98 near the Greene County line in Lucedale. Authorities said two people, 24-year old Christopher Baxter and 18-year old Brandy Williams were trying to elude police when they deliberately hit Welford.
WLOX reported that Sheriff Welford was airlifted to USA Medical Center in Mobile, Ala., where he later died.
After the accident, Baxter and Williams jumped out of their car and ran into the nearby woods. Lucedale police said both suspects have a criminal history and the search for them continues.
Infant killed in accident
A 5-month old baby was killed Wednesday morning after his father attempted a left turn in the path of an 18-wheeler. Authorities said Jasper Rigual was properly strapped in his carseat when his father, Jose Rigual, tried to turn on U.S. Highway 25 in Fairview. Rigual was traveling northbound on the highway when he turned in front of the semi.
Rigual was transported to a local hospital for minor injuries and was reportedly in stable condition. His infant son was pronounced dead at the scene.
Man who hired illegal immigrants going to jail
A man who hired hundreds of illegal immigrants for one of the state’s most successful private companies will be sentenced on July 30 for his actions.
Jose Humberto Gonzales, the former human resources manager for Howard Industries, pleaded guilty in December 2009 to conspiracy. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents detained about 600 illegal immigrants at Howard’s electrical transformer plant in Laurel in August 2008.
Several of those workers were later convicted of identity theft and hundreds more were deported.
The Associated Press reported that Gonzales, the only company official charged in the case, admitted that he hired the workers regardless of their lawful status.
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