MERIDIAN — Mike Vick, public information officer for the Meridian Police Department, confirmed this afternoon an arrest warrant has been issued in the death of 28-year-old Alex Sims of Meridian. Officials said the suspect's name in the case is Sean Scott, 35, also of Meridian. Vick said information on the suspect has been entered into the National Crime Information Center's (NCIC) data base and that law enforcement agencies across the country will be on the lookout for Scott. Sims' body was found July 18 in Catalpa Creek near the rural community of Tibbee in Clay County. According to reports, fishermen found the body floating in the creek around 11:30 a.m. and immediately notified Clay County law enforcement authorities. Sims was reported missing to Meridian Police Department authorities on July 15. Sims was last seen at his home on 64th Avenue earlier on July 15. Family members positively identified the body July 20.

Sims' vehicle has not been located. Sims' body was thought to have been in the water for three to five days before it was discovered. The case was handled by the MPD and authorities with the Clay County Sheriff's Department as a homicide from the start. An autopsy took a week to be concluded and upon those test results authorities in Clay County stated Sims had indeed been murdered, however, they would not release the exact cause of death fearing it might jeopardize the case.