A Columbus police officer was put on administrative leave with pay after being arrested for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from a vulnerable adult and served an indictment for multiple counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult.
A Lowndes County grand jury indicted Jameson Holder, 27, of four counts of exploitation of a vulnerable adult, according to circuit court documents.
The indictment says Holder transferred more than $37,000 from his victim’s credit card to his own personal account between November 2017 and August 2018, including $20,028.80 between November 2017 and January 2018, $15,316.33 between February and July 2018, and $2,500 between July and August 2018. The indictment said he also took more than $250 worth of the victim’s property in February 2019.
Holder was hired as a patrol officer July 24, 2017. Human Resources Director Pat Mitchell confirmed he is on administrative leave with pay, adding that he could not have been dismissed because, as an officer, he is under certain protections from the Civil Service Commission.
Columbus Police Chief Fred Shelton did not return calls from The Dispatch about Holder’s status by press time.
Holder has been released from Lowndes County Adult Detention Center on $20,000 bond.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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