VAIDEN — Allen Vance will continue to serve as Vaiden’s police chief for now while out on bond on charges of arson and conspiracy to commit arson on insured property, Mayor Melvin Hawthorne said this morning.
Hawthorne said the Board of Aldermen wants more details on the charges before taking any action. They met Wednesday night in executive session to discuss the Vance situation as well as other personnel matters, he said.
“We took no action. We took it under advisement, and we’ll mull over it and reconvene Monday night after the regular meeting of the board to discuss it,” Hawthorne said.
“I told (Vance) to communicate with the board during this. We haven’t relieved him from duty. He’s still our chief.”
Deputy State Fire Marshal Mikey Ivey said his office is investigating the burning of a vehicle on Feb. 10, and he “is not at liberty to say anything about the investigation. All I can say is we’re working on it.”
After a warrant was issued for Vance’s arrest, he turned himself in to the Grenada Police Department, where he is also employed as an officer, on Monday. He was released on $15,000 bond for each of two charges: conspiracy to commit arson on an insured property and arson on insured property.
Vance has been police chief since September 2010.
