A man convicted of killing four people in the early 1990s attacked Oktibbeha County Sheriff Dolph Bryan and a jailer Wednesday in the Oktibbeha County Courthouse annex.
Both Bryan and Jail Administrator Jimmy Vaughn were treated at OCH Regional Medical Center for minor injuries after Willie “Fly” Manning became combative outside a holding cell in the building on West Main Street, Bryan said.
Bryan had just testified against Manning at a hearing and was in his office in the back of the courthouse when he heard a commotion in the hallway, he recalled Thursday. The sheriff stepped into the hallway and encountered Manning, who was refusing Mississippi Department of Corrections officers” orders to enter the holding cell until he received a cushion on which to sit, Bryan said.
“He was causing such a disturbance that I walked outside and told (the MDOC officers) to put him in the cell,” Bryan said. “He wouldn”t go in, so I grabbed his arm and said, ”Come on, Willie,” and the fight was on.”
According to Bryan, Manning attacked him, then the pair, along with Vaughn, engaged in a brief struggle. Manning already was “pretty well secured,” Bryan said, so the situation was under control within seconds and Manning was placed in the cell.
Still, Bryan was treated at OCH Regional Medical Center for injuries to his arm and leg, while Vaughn suffered injuries to his hand, Bryan said.
Manning, who already is on death row for four capital murder convictions, could be charged with assault on law enforcement officers, Bryan said.
“He hasn”t been charged yet, but since he”s already on death row, we”re not in a big hurry,” Bryan said. “It will be up to the (district attorney) whether we move forward with the charges or not.”
Manning was convicted of capital murder for the 1992 shooting deaths of Mississippi State University students Jon Steckler and Tiffany Miller along the side of Pat Station Road. Manning also was convicted of capital murder for the deaths of Emmoline Jimmerson and Alberta Jordan in 1993 at Brookville Gardens. The women were beaten and their throats had been slashed.
You can help your community
Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.