Sheriff in southern Mississippi dies after being hit by vehicle while making arrest attempt
By APWednesday, July 21, 2010
S. Mississippi sheriff dies after arrest attempt
LUCEDALE, Miss. — A sheriff in southern Mississippi died Wednesday after being struck by a vehicle while trying to make an arrest on a road near the Alabama state line, officials said.
George County Sheriff Garry Welford was pronounced dead at 4:23 p.m. after being airlifted to the University of South Alabama Medical Center in Mobile, District Attorney Tony Lawrence said in a news release.
Lawrence said the incident happened as Welford was trying to make an arrest. Mike Byrd, sheriff of neighboring Jackson County, said Welford was throwing spikes on a road in George County to try to stop a pickup truck when he was struck.
Lawrence said two suspects — Brandy Nicole Williams, 18, and Christopher Lee Baxter, 24 — were being sought for questioning.
Welford had been sheriff in George County since 2004.
“He was a well known, well respected man. His whole family was well respected in this community,” said state Rep. Deryk Parker, D-Lucedale. “It’s definitely a tragedy.”
George County has a population of about 22,681 and is about 150 miles southeast of Jackson.
