A Meridian police officer tried to make a traffic stop, and the driver took off. He lost control of his car just outside city limits on North Lakeland Drive and went into a ditch. Multiple passengers bailed out of the car and ran away while the officer tried to arrest the driver. A Mississippi Wildlife, Fisheries and Parks officer came by and tried to help the officer. There was a struggle to take the man into custody, while the subject tried to get into the Wildlife and Fisheries truck. The man was arrested and put in the back of an MPD vehicle. He died a short time later.
Victim's Name: Jason Stevens
Agency Responsible: Meridian Police Department, Mississippi Department of Wildlife Fisheries and Parks
Gender: Male
Age: 33
Race: Unknown Race
Date of Death: February 19, 2018
County: Lauderdale
Cause of Death: Gunshot
Official Disposition: Pending investigation/No Known Charges
Criminal Charges: No known charges
Mental Illness: No
Armed: Unarmed/Did Not Have an Actual Weapon
Weapon: unarmed
Threat Level: undetermined
Fleeing: Car
Geography: Suburban