Former officer accused of stealing $32K from dying woman while responding to medical call

RANKIN COUNTY, Miss. (WLBT/Gray News) - A former Pearl Police officer has been arrested, months after he was fired for allegedly stealing thousands of dollars from a dying woman.

According to the Rankin County Sheriff’s Office, Christopher Taylor Lofton has been booked into the Rankin County Jail on one count of grand larceny this week.

Pearl Police Chief Nick McLendon announced the arrest Friday.

“I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: accountability is a core part of our mission at the Pearl Police Department,” he shared. “Accountability is not reserved solely for criminals—it applies to everyone, including those who wear the badge.

Last year, Mississippi Today reported that Lofton took $32,000 from a woman’s home after responding to the property for a medical call.

The woman, Jackie Kelly, had collapsed unexpectedly, and her husband called an ambulance. Pearl officers arrived at the scene, including Lofton.

Lofton reportedly took the money from an envelope in a desk drawer. Family members said they determined the money was stolen after first responders and police left.

“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,” McLendon concluded.

A judge set Lofton’s bail at $50,000.