Tupelo police charge two men with burglary

Tupelo police arrested two men on March 25 for separate burglary incidents, one involving a commercial building and the other a vehicle. The first incident took place at the Smokey Vape Shop on West Main Street, where the store owner alerted authorities after receiving an alarm notice.

When officers arrived at the scene, they spotted Tykerious D. Clifton, a 20-year-old resident of Smith Street, attempting to flee through the back door of the shop. Following a brief foot chase, police apprehended Clifton and later charged him with burglary of a commercial building. Notably, he was already out on bond for a prior felony at the time of this arrest.

During his initial court appearance, Tupelo Municipal Court Judge Jay Weir ordered Clifton to be held without bond. This decision underscores the serious nature of his offenses and his prior criminal history.

In a separate case, Benny A. Cook, a 39-year-old from New Albany, was also charged with breaking into a vehicle four weeks prior. The victim reported the theft of a cell phone from their car on February 16, which led to the investigation and eventual arrest of Cook.

Cook has been charged with burglary of a vehicle, with a bond set at $5,000. These arrests highlight ongoing efforts by local law enforcement to address and reduce criminal activity in the Tupelo area.