Passenger arrested in Georgia traffic stop sought for murder in Mississippi, police say
.jpg "A man wanted in the killing of a Mississippi jewelry store owner was arrested during a traffic stop in Kennesaw, Georgia, authorities say.")
A traffic stop in an Atlanta-area neighborhood ended in the arrest of a man accused of murder in Mississippi, according to authorities.
Phillip Harris was the passenger in a car stopped by police for “multiple equipment violations” early Saturday, March 26, on Ellison Lakes Drive in Kennesaw, police spokesman Officer David Buchanan told McClatchy News.
“During this traffic stop, ecstasy, THC vapes, marijuana, a firearm, and a passenger with a warrant were found,” Kennesaw police said in a news release. “The driver was arrested for DUI and drug charges.”
After running their information, police learned Harris was wanted for murder in Indianola, Mississippi, Buchanan said. The city of roughly 9,600 residents is nestled in the Mississippi Delta, about 100 miles north of the state’s capital, according to the latest available census data.
Harris is allegedly wanted in connection with the shooting death of jewelry store owner Jamie Iverson and had been on the run for nearly a year, WAGA reported, citing investigators. Authorities said Iverson, 67, was killed during a robbery at her family’s store on April 23, 2021.
Two brothers, ages 19 and 20, were arrested and charged with capital murder, according to WLBT. Authorities have not said how Harris was involved.
McClatchy News reached out to the Indianola Police Department on Tuesday, March 29, and was awaiting a response.
Iverson was remembered as a “beloved wife, mother, grandmother and friend,” according to an online obituary.
“Jamie’s most coveted title, however, was being ‘Mimi’ to her three precious grandchildren who all adored her, and she them,” the obituary reads.
Authorities in Indianola said they’re happy to know Harris is behind bars.
“We knew who we were looking for, just a matter of tracking him down,” Indianola Police Sgt. Regina Simpson told WAGA. “I am relieved, Ms. Iverson was a very well known person here. We’re glad that Kennesaw (police) took Mr. Harris off the street before anything else could happen.”
Harris is being held at the Cobb County jail until his extradition back to Mississippi, Buchanan said.
Kennesaw is about 30 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta.
This story was originally published March 29, 2022 at 12:39 PM with the headline "Passenger arrested in Georgia traffic stop sought for murder in Mississippi, police say."