PEARL, Miss. (WJTV) – A former Pearl police officer was arrested and charged, months after he allegedly stole $32,000 from a dying woman’s house.
According to the Rankin County Detention Center’s website, Christopher Taylor Loftin, 29, was arrested on June 19 and charged with grand larceny. His bond was set at $50,000.
In a report by Mississippi Today, Loftin and other officers responded to the home of Jackie Kelly in November 2024 after a 911 call said she had collapsed.
Former Pearl Police Chief Dean Scott dies
According to Kelly’s son, she had inherited $32,000 and received the money in cash, which was placed in a drawer in her bedroom. After the first responders and officers left the home, Kelly’s son and husband discovered the cash had been stolen.
Loftin was later fired from the Pearl Police Department.
Pearl Police Chief Nick McLendon announced Loftin’s arrest on June 20 in a social media post.
“Accountability is not reserved solely for criminals—it applies to everyone, including those who wear the badge. In fact, as law enforcement officers, we are held to a higher standard. Upholding that standard is essential to maintaining the trust and integrity of our department and our relationship with the community we serve,” said McLendon.
Christopher Taylor Loftin (Courtesy: Rankin County Detention Center)
The police chief said he would not comment on the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation’s (MBI) findings due to the ongoing investigation and the pending court proceedings.
“The Pearl Police Department will continue to cooperate fully with investigative authorities and provide updates as appropriate,” McLendon stated.
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