A Natchez man was arrested Saturday following an investigation into stolen vehicles found at a local salvage business, the Adams County Sheriff’s Office reported.
Michael Lintito Johnson, 53, was booked into the Adams County Jail on Saturday. He faces one count of grand larceny involving property valued between $1,000 and $5,000, as well as two counts of false pretenses.
Deputies said they responded to Natchez salvage on Friday after receiving a tip about a vehicle connected to a prior stolen-vehicle investigation. When officers arrived, they confirmed the vehicle had been reported stolen. During the investigation, deputies identified a second stolen vehicle at the location that was linked to a separate Natchez Police Department report.
Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry also discussed SpaceX’s planned rocket launching facility and its potential impact on Louisiana’s economy. Landry said the project offers economic opportunity, and construction is set to begin next month, which he said would produce thousands of jobs. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk stated the number of permanent jobs could be as many as 10,000. The report also noted concerns raised by people worried about environmental impacts and effects on residents in coastal Vermilion Parish.
Community leaders continued to pressure the city of Cenotopia regarding allegations that Cenotopia Police Chief Harold Vandefer used racial slurs in more than a dozen text messages. The allegations come after the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation reported that one-year-old Cohen Wiley was fatally shot by an officer in a Walmart parking lot in Cenotopia in June. Vandefer remains on the job after appearing before the mayor and board of aldermen, who said they were standing by the chief, while calls for his removal continue.
In Louisiana political news, the Louisiana Republican Party announced endorsements related to upcoming elections. In District 5, among six Republican candidates, the party endorsed Misty Cordell, the chairwoman of the Louisiana Board of Regents. An opponent, State Representative Gabe Furman, said the endorsement does not matter in the long run and that the election outcome depends on voters. Stewart Kathy had not commented at the time of the report.
In weather and river conditions, the Mississippi River at Natchez Vickalia was reported at 30.55 feet and falling.
