Jackson Jambalaya

Canton Man Receives a 40-Year Sentence for Shooting at a

Sheriff’s Deputy and for Possessing a Firearm by a Felon

            Madison and Rankin Counties’ District Attorney Michael Guest announced today that Anthony White was sentenced to 40 years to serve in the custody of the Mississippi Department of Corrections after entering a plea of guilty to aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer (30 years) and possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (10 years).

           

On February 25, 2016, a Madison County Sheriff’s Deputy pulled over a car that was registered to an individual who had an outstanding warrant.  The deputy began walking toward the driver’s side of the car when the passenger, Anthony White, opened the car door and began to exit the vehicle.  The deputy asked White to get back into the car, but he refused and then started to run away from the deputy.

The deputy pursued White, on foot, down several streets while ordering him to stop.  The pursuit continued for several blocks.  During the pursuit, the deputy noticed White pull a black automatic pistol from his waistband.  The deputy continued to command White to stop, drop the weapon, and show his hands.  White continued to flee and ran to a storage building where he turned back toward the deputy and fired several shots.  The deputy then returned fire at the suspect.  Neither the deputy nor the suspect were injured in the exchange of gunfire.

White once again fled on foot but he was arrested shortly thereafter by a member of the Canton Police Department who was responding to the call of shots being fired.  White was identified by the deputy as being the suspect that shot at him during the foot pursuit.  The firearm used to fire on the officer was later recovered by officers hidden under a tree branch near the area where White was arrested.

Guest stated, “I want to thank Sheriff Randy Tucker, his deputies and staff for all they do to keep Madison County safe.  We often forget how dangerous a job law enforcement perform.  This case clearly represents the dangers that our men and women in blue face on a daily basis.”   

            Guest concluded, “I am thankful that God had his hand of protection around this officer and that at the end of his watch he was able to return home safely to his family.  I am also grateful for the actions of the Madison County Sheriff’s Department and the Canton Police Department that have allowed us to remove a dangerous and violent criminal from the streets of Madison County.”

            District Attorney Michael Guest was sworn into office in January 2008 and represents the Twentieth Judicial District, Madison and Rankin Counties.  For more information regarding the District Attorney’s office, please visit www.daguest.com, follow us on Facebook and download our app, da guest.

Defendant:

Name:             Anthony L. White                  

Address:          633 West Fulton Street, Canton