A newly-hired city of Indianola police officer ended up behind bars early Friday morning after fellow officers responded to a domestic violence call, after 11 p.m. Thursday night, according to Indianola Police Chief Edrick Hall.
Shuntequa Eriyonnia Lofton, 25, a not-yet certified policewoman, was arrested, charged with domestic violence and transported to the Sunflower County jail after officers arrived and found physical evidence of an altercation.
Hall said the arresting officers followed the law, which requires that the accused assailant be arrested if there are visible injuries and the victim had cuts and scratches consistent with an assault.
Lofton was suspended pending an investigation.
She had her initial appearance before Judge Kuykendall Murry on Friday morning and was reportedly released on her own recognizance under the condition that she has no contact, directly or indirectly, with the alleged victim and that she keeps her appointment for arraignment in municipal court.
Generally, a no-contact order means the accused cannot come within 100 yards of the person, their home or job and not reach out to them by phone, text message or any means including through another individual.
Hall said although Lofton was incarcerated in the county jail, she was placed in a single-person cell where she would not come in contact with anyone she may have arrested in her short time with the department.
Lofton was hired by the board of aldermen at its March 26 meeting, pursuant to Hall’s recommendation, and she has been with the department for exactly one month.
Hall expressed his disappointment regarding the incident but added, “As police officers, we’ve got to hold ourselves to a higher standard.”
