VAIDEN, Miss.–The ex-police chief of Vaiden will serve three months robation after he admitted to burning a car in Grenada County on Feb. 10, 2013, reported Breezynews.com. Allen Vance worked in Grenada as a part time officer. Meanwhile, it was guilty pleas on several charges by Bruce Barlow, former chief in Mendenhall.
Vance, 47, resigned as police chief in June after the charges. He also gave up his job on the Grenada police force. It was an investigation by the state fire marshal’s office that landed him in trouble.
Barlow admitted Wednesday that he was shaking down citizens. That means he would arrest them or pull them over and make them sign over property or give up cash to get out of it. He told them the money went to a special police fund. Federal prosecutors say it surely did, to Barlow’s pocket.
He ended up stealing more than $30,000 they they know of.
“I think the victims have been vindicated. Public corruption is really a scourge not only in small towns, but throughout our state, and so I think we hope to continue to go after the corrupt cops, corrupt politicians taking advantage of their office,” said Assistant U. S. Attorney Mike Hurst. in a statement.
Barlow, easily recognizable by his large mustache, will be sentenced March 25 on bribery, embezzlement, extortion and conspiracy charges.
The chief troubles come just as the Miss. Assoc. of Police Chiefs adds a new class of members.
It also comes at a time when several law officers and elected officials are facing troubles in corruption cases by the feds and state.
Southaven’s ex-mayor Greg Davis, Rolling Fork Mayor Butch Walker, former Jackson County sheriff Mike Byrd, are all in some form of trouble.
