WLBT 3 - Jackson, MS: Law enforcement leaders want to see more surveillance cameras inside small businesses

Law enforcement leaders want to see more surveillance cameras inside small businesses

By Julie Straw - bio | email

COPIAH COUNTY, MS (WLBT) - It seems surveillance cameras are everywhere capturing heroic acts on a school bus, eratic drivers and business owner's playing dirty.  Law enforcement leaders want to see more.

"As you folks in the media say a picture is worth a thousand words," said Copiah County Sheriff Harold Jones.

Surveillance cameras captured this scuffle between a clerk and a knife wielding thief at a Georgetown convenience store Saturday.  Sheriff Jones said that led to his search for this man 24 year old Erik Hollie.  Then Tuesday an armed robbery turned deadly at a Wesson pawn shop.  The store had no surveillance video.  Hollie was later arrested for the crime.

"If the worst case does happen, as it has in my county this week and we're reeling from that, it will enable law enforcement to have a step up in the investigation process and at least be able to identify somebody," said Sheriff Jones.

Douglas Chapman with Pennington and Trim Alarm Services says for as little as $2,000 store owners can have that peace of mind.

"I think with today's technology it's just prudent to have security in and around your businesses to document the things that are going on," said Chapman.

Although Sheriff Jones made an arrest in this latest murder he still is searching for the person responsible for killing Crystal Springs Sak-N-Pak clerk William Luke Donahoe in March.  That store had surveillance cameras, but they did not work.

"We all know his family.  We're hurting just like they are.  I just wish we could get a lead, a conclusion with this and we're trying," said Sheriff Jones.

There is a $31,000 reward being offered for anyone with information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person responsible for Donahoe's murder.  Please call the Copiah County Sheriff's Department at 601-894-3011.