A Lowndes County corrections officer has been arrested and charged with felony embezzlement after investigators say he took equipment from his former employer.

Michael Anthony Mellott, currently employed at the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center and formerly with the Mississippi University for Women (MUW) Police Department, was taken into custody this week. Authorities allege that after resigning from MUW, Mellott retained several pieces of department-issued equipment, including a handheld radio, bulletproof vest, and badge.

The stolen property was valued at more than $1,000, elevating the charge to felony embezzlement under Mississippi law.

Mellott is being held at the Lowndes County Adult Detention Center on a $10,000 bond.

“The trust placed in law enforcement and corrections offi

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