EAST CAMDEN, Ark. — The Arkansas Division on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (ADLEST) proudly recognized the graduates of Basic Police Training Class 2026-B during a ceremony at the East Camden campus of the Arkansas Law Enforcement Training Academy (ALETA). The class consisted of 65 cadets representing 45law enforcement agencies from across Arkansas. Following weeks…
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas roadway fatalities are down significantly compared to recent years, according to year-to-date data. As of July 29, 2026, preliminary reports indicate there have been 245 traffic fatalities statewide, compared to 292 at the same point in 2025 — a decrease of 47 deaths. A total of 569 people were killed on…
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory (ASCL) announced a major milestone in digital evidence processing, with significant reductions in the backlog of mobile device examinations and substantial improvements in turnaround times. For the first time in recent years, the laboratory’s Digital Evidence Section is now processing mobile devices as they are submitted, effectively…
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas State Police (ASP) is investigating two separate in-custody deaths. On Sunday, July 26, 2026, the West Memphis Police Department requested ASP assistance in the death of Tony Sanders, 40, of West Memphis. Officers responded to a report that a man was attempting to break into an ambulance at Crittenden Baptist Hospital.…
LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — Anthony B. Smith, 26, of Little Rock, was sentenced Thursday, July 23, 2026, to 25 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections after pleading guilty to First-Degree Murder in the death of Clifford James Griffin, 27, of Maumelle. The fatal crash occurred on September 19, 2024, on Interstate 430 near Colonel Glenn…
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management, working in coordination with Arkansas Task Force One, has deployed two seven‑member Swift Water search and rescue teams through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact to assist Texas communities experiencing severe and widespread flooding. The deployment began Thursday after Texas requested support through EMAC, allowing Arkansas to…
VAN BUREN, Ark. — On Wednesday, July 15, 2026, around 1:45 p.m., an Arkansas State Police (ASP) Trooper conducted a traffic stop on a van traveling on Interstate 40 near the 2-mile marker in Crawford County. During a search of the vehicle, Troopers discovered approximately 150 pounds of high-grade, illegal marijuana packaged in multiple bundles. The…
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — The Arkansas State Police (ASP) is launching a new statewide public safety initiative, “Rules of the Road,” a video series designed to help Arkansans better understand common traffic laws and best driving practices on Arkansas roadways. The campaign debuts today, with the first video focused on what drivers should do when being…
TEXARKANA, Ark. — On Tuesday, July 7, 2026, the Arkansas State Police (ASP) Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force (ICAC), in coordination with the FBI, ASP Company C, and the Miller County SWAT Team, executed a search warrant at a home in the 8000 block of Old Harrison Chapel Road in Texarkana. The search warrant stemmed…
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — From July 10 through July 31, State and local law enforcement agencies across Arkansas will participate in the national Speeding Slows You Down high-visibility enforcement campaign, increasing patrols and enforcement efforts to reduce speeding-related crashes and save lives.Speeding remains one of the leading contributors to traffic fatalities in the United States. In…
July 2, 2026CAMDEN, Ark. — Ouachita County Chief Deputy Collector Erica Johnson has been charged with Theft of Property, a Class D felony, following an investigation by the Arkansas State Police (ASP) Criminal Investigation Division. The investigation, which began in January at the request of 13th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Jeff Rogers, revealed that Johnson, 33,…
LAKE VILLAGE, Ark. — On Tuesday, June 23, 2026, Special Agents with the Arkansas State Police (ASP) Criminal Investigation Division (CID) arrested Debra Chandler, 57, of Lake Village, on two felony counts of Theft of Property. In December 2025, at the request of Tenth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Frank Spain, ASP CID initiated a theft investigation…
Brinkley, Ark. — Arkansas State Police (ASP) Troopers seized 190 1-pound bags of illegal marijuana during a traffic stop Monday, June 22, 2026, on Interstate 40 at the 217-mile marker in Monroe County. Around 6 a.m., Troopers stopped a black Chevrolet Silverado for a traffic violation. During a search of the vehicle, Troopers discovered the marijuana…
ASHDOWN, Ark. — At the request of the Ashdown Police Department (APD), special agents with the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division (CID) are investigating a fatal shooting in Ashdown. On Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at around 6:30 a.m., officers with the APD and the Little River County Sheriff’s Office responded to a shooting in the…
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. ─ The Arkansas Division of Emergency Management announced that State Fire Marshal Dennis Free will retire effective July 1, concluding a distinguished career marked by dedication, professionalism, and an unwavering commitment to public safety. Free’s service to the State of Arkansas spans 45 years in fire protection and prevention. He spent 26…
Because of outrage over recent incidents in which suspects fled from law enforcement with children in their vehicles, Arkansas State Police (ASP) Col. Mike Hagar is calling on parents and caregivers to think first of the safety of the children in their care and pull over. “As a father, I cannot fathom a parent making…
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — In recognition of National Internet Safety Month, the Arkansas State Police (ASP) Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force is encouraging parents, caregivers, and communities across the state to strengthen their approach to protecting children online. Historically, the largest increases in online enticement cases occur during the summer months and the beginning…
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The Arkansas State Crime Laboratory (ASCL) has been recognized as a recipient of the prestigious Foresight Maximus Award, an international honor presented to top-performing forensic laboratories operating at 90% or better of peak efficiency during the reporting year. Presented during the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors (ASCLD) Annual Symposium held May 17…
NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. ─ The state is experiencing a troubling rise in fire-related deaths this year. As of today, Arkansas has recorded 28 fire fatalities, already surpassing the 27 deaths reported by this time in 2025. This early increase highlights a growing public safety concern that requires immediate attention. In 2025, only 14 percent of…
ROLAND, Ark. — The Arkansas State Police (ASP) Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is investigating an officer-involved shooting that occurred Monday, May 25, 2026, in Pulaski County involving Arkansas State Park Rangers Around 6:15 p.m., Pulaski County Dispatch received a 911 call reporting a possible medical emergency at a residence in the 22000 block of State…
JEFFERSON CITY, MO. — Criminal investigators with the Missouri State Highway Patrol’s Division of Drug and Crime Control are seeking the public’s assistance regarding the suspicious death of Justin Hocutt, 14, of Seligman, MO. The death was initially investigated in 1999, and recently, the Barry County Sheriff’s Office has requested the Patrol’s assistance in investigation. Hocutt…
