Press Releases

Additional Information Contact:

ASP Highway Safety Office - Bridget White (501) 618-8356   bridget.white@asp.arkansas.gov

OCTOBER 14, 2022

Typing or reading cellular telephone messages while driving is risky business.  Anyone doing it could be stopped by police and issued a violator citation.  Worse, someone could die in a vehicle crash because a driver was distracted and thought a text message was more important than a life.

Beginning next week (October 17 - 23), Arkansas law enforcement agencies will intensify their patrols aimed at drivers violating the Arkansas texting while driving law.  "U Drive, U Text, You Pay" is a coordinated campaign designed to stop distracted driving.  Law enforcement agencies across the state have pledged their support toward enforcing the law and educating violators.

Consistently since 2007, drivers among the millennial age group, have become the worst texting while driving offenders, using their cell phones to talk, text, and scroll through social media.  According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, drivers 16 to 24 years old have also been observed using handheld electronic devices while driving with greater frequency than older drivers.  During calendar year 2020, 6 percent of people killed in teen (15 - 19) driving crashes died while operating their vehicle and being distracted.

During the upcoming enforcement operation parents are encouraged to discuss with their teenage children the subject of developing safe driving habits, including the practice of never sending or reading text messages while driving.  National Teen Driver Safety Week is October 16 - 22 and parents should take the opportunity during the week to set a good example for their teenage children who are beginning to drive.  It's a parent's responsibility to help their children make smart choices and drive safely.

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death among U.S. teens (15 - 18 year old).  Two years ago, 153,566 people (7% of all roadway injuries during 2020) were injured in motor vehicle crashes involving teenage drivers.  More than 2,000 people died in the crashes and 748 of the deaths were teenage drivers.

"It's incomprehensible why anyone would read or send a text message while driving," said Colonel Bill Bryant, Director of the Arkansas State Police and the Governor's Highway Safety Representative.  "People, young and old alike know it's dangerous and deadly, but they selfishly put others at risk."

Texting while driving is against the law in 47 states, Washington DC, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the U.S. Virgin Islands.  NHTSA officials will be reminding teenagers of the danger in using their phones while driving.  Using a phone to text, talk or participate in social media while driving is unacceptable, even while stopped in traffic.

"Beginning October 17th state troopers and law enforcement officers across Arkansas will increase their emphasis toward identifying drivers who text while driving and issuing citations for the violation," Colonel Bryant stated.

Arkansas law enforcement officers and the Arkansas Highway Safety Office urge drivers to put down their phones when behind the wheel.  If you need to read or send a text message, pull over and stop at a safe location.  Drivers should consider these reminders:

Texting while driving is dangerous and illegal.  Remember: U Drive. U Text. U Pay.  For more information, visit www.trafficsafetymarketing.gov or contact the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 618-8136.

The Stone County Sheriff's Office is looking for a 2021 white Casita Liberty 16' travel trailer that was taken off a camping site on Gunner Pool Road in Fifty Six area on 8/24/2022. If anyone knows about this theft, contact Chief Deputy Dammon McGilton at 870-866-8038.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:  8-21-2022

CONTACT: Sergeant Joe Beaudin Stone County Sheriff's office

Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over The Results of Drunk Driving Could Be Crushing

Mountain View, Arkansas - During the Labor Day holiday, including the end of summertime and the busy Labor Day weekend, the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) is working alongside the law enforcement community in Stone County to decrease impaired driving. From August 19 through September 5, Stone County Sheriff's office and the Mountain View Police Department will be participating in the Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over enforcement period. In support of the law enforcement community's dedication to protecting the lives of residents in their communities, you'll see officers working together during this time to take drunk drivers off the roads. No matter how you plan to celebrate the end of the season this year, make sure you plan it safely.

According to the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), 11,654 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2020 that involved an alcohol-impaired driver. On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2016 to 2020, and one person was killed in a drunk-driving crash every 45 minutes in 2020. This is why County Law Enforcement Agencies are working together with NHTSA to remind drivers that drunk driving is not only illegal, it is a matter of life and death. As you head out to festivities during the end of summer and Labor Day weekend, remember: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

"We want our community members to understand that it's our first priority to keep people safe, so we're asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they'll be out drinking," said Sheriff Lance Bonds  "We need commitment from our community members that they'll keep the streets free of drunk drivers so that everyone can have a safe summertime and Labor Day holiday. This is an awareness effort to get the message out that drunk driving is illegal and it takes lives. Let's make this a partnership between law enforcement and drivers: Help us protect the community and put an end to this senseless behavior," he said. 

During the 2020 Labor Day holiday period (6 p.m. September 4 - 5:59 a.m. September 8), there were 530 crash fatalities nationwide. Forty-six percent of those fatalities involved drivers who had been drinking (.01+ BAC). More than one-third (38%) of the fatalities involved drivers who were drunk (.08+ BAC), and one-fourth (25%) involved drivers who were driving with a BAC almost twice the legal limit (.15+ BAC). Age is a particularly risky factor: Among drivers between the ages of 21 and 34 who were killed in crashes over the Labor Day holiday period in 2020, 44% of those drivers were drunk, with BACs of .08 or higher.

Stone County Sheriff's office and Mountain View Police Dept and NHTSA are reminding citizens of the many resources available to get them home safely. "Drunk driving is not acceptable behavior, especially when there are so many safe alternatives to get you home safely," said Chief George Bethell

Stone County Law Enforcement recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:

For more information on impaired driving, visit www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving.

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END OF SUMMER PATROLS AIMED AT IMPAIRED DRIVERS

Additional Information Contact:

Highway Safety Office - Bridget White (501) 618-8356   bridget.white@asp.arkansas.gov

AUGUST 15, 2022

  Arkansas motorists will begin to see more Arkansas State Troopers, sheriff's deputies, and local police on patrol later this week.  The increased presence of law enforcement officers on state highways and local roads is part of a joint mission with the U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Safety Administration (NHTSA) to stop impaired driving.

  Beginning Friday (August 19th) law enforcement agencies across the country will step-up patrols through the remainder of the summer and during the upcoming Labor Day holiday that ends on September 6th.  Drivers should always remember, Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

  Statistical reports from NHTSA indicate that 11,654 people were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2020 that involved an alcohol-impaired driver.  On average, more than 10,000 people were killed each year from 2016 to 2020, and one person was killed in a drunk driving crash every 45 minutes in 2020.

  "We want Arkansans to understand it's our first priority to keep people safe," said Colonel Bill Bryant, Director of the Arkansas State Police and the Governor's Highway Safety Representative.  "No one gets a free pass; drunk drivers go to jail."

  Planning before the festivities or travel begins can eliminate the risk of injury, death, or someone being placed in jail.  The Arkansas Highway Safety Office recommends these safe alternatives to drinking and driving:

  "We need commitment from all motorists they will keep our roadways free of drunk drivers so that everyone can travel safely.  Increased patrols are part of an awareness effort to get the message out that drunk driving is illegal, and it can be deadly," said Colonel Bryant.  "It's a partnership between law enforcement and drivers.  Help us protect all roadway users and put an end to this senseless behavior".

  For more information on impaired driving, visit https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/drunk-driving or call the Arkansas Highway Safety Office at (501) 618-8136.  Learn about Arkansas' ongoing Toward Zero Deaths campaign to eliminate preventable traffic fatalities by visiting www.TZDArkansas.org.

LITTLE ROCK - Increasing temperatures lead to increasing utility bills for Arkansas business owners, something scam artists are using to their advantage when targeting individuals and local businesses. While utility companies accept multiple payment methods for the convenience of businesses and consumers, gift cards and crypto-currency, like Bitcoin, are not on the list. Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is warning Arkansans that scammers are finding ways to prey on Arkansans and directly impacting their budget and hard-earned money.

"Arkansans are suffering from a struggling economy, high prices and even higher temperatures, they do not need the worry about additional costs that come from these scams," said Attorney General Leslie Rutledge. "I urge Arkansans to be vigilant against potential scams so they don't lose their cool or their money." 

How to spot a utility payment scam:

How to ensure your payment gets to the utility company safely and securely:

If you fall victim to one of these phone calls, file a complaint with the Attorney General's office. The Attorney General's office also makes presentations on scams to organizations and groups. To call and schedule a scam prevention presentation, call 501-682-2007 or email speaker@arkansasag.gov.

LITTLE ROCK - Once again, scam artists have targeted restaurants around Arkansas posing as Arkansas Department of Health (ADH) officials claiming to conduct restaurant inspections. Attorney General Leslie Rutledge is urging Arkansans not to fall for this scam, especially when the individual is attempting to demand immediate payment for declared violations.

"Scam artists are exploiting the stress and burden faced by Arkansas businesses, as the owners focus on tightening their budgets to manage the skyrocketing inflation, supply issues and staffing shortages," said Attorney General Rutledge. "Call my office immediately if you are contacted by a con artist demanding money from a false business inspection."

Attorney General Rutledge provides the following advice for anyone contacted about an inspection at their place of business:

If you believe you have been contacted by a scammer or fallen victim to a scam posing as an ADH official, you can report these calls to the Attorney General's office online at www.ArkansasAG.gov, by emailing OAG@ArkansasAG.gov or by calling (800) 482-8982. Please note the time of the call and the number it came from when you report it.

LITTLE ROCK - This July, Arkansas Attorney General Leslie Rutledge and the Federal Trade Commission are highlighting consumer protection issues that impact many American consumers, specifically those members of the United States Armed Forces. While no one is immune from falling prey to scams, there are certain scams that are directed to those who serve the nation in uniform.

"Scam artists prey on the fact that United States service members are the most sacrificial people and exploit their generosity to gain a profit," said Attorney General Rutledge. "It is important that current and former members of our armed forces, as well as their families, are able to identify these types of scams so that they do not fall victim to them."

Attorney General Rutledge released the following tips and common scams military service members and veterans should be cautious of moving forward:

In 2019, Attorney General Rutledge successfully sued Andrew Gamber; Voyager Financial Group, LLC; BAIC, Inc.; and SoBell Corp. for the brokering of contracts that offer high-interest credit to veterans in exchange for investors illegally acquiring rights to receive future pension payments. The following year, Rutledge sued Candy Kern-Fuller and Howard Sutter, lawyers at UpState Law Group in South Carolina for substantially assisting brokers with the illegal sale of veterans' future pension payments. Kern-Fuller and Sutter are accused of developing the contract approval, payment collection and enforcement processes. The broker companies falsely told veterans that they were selling their future payments for a reduced lump-sum. In reality, the veterans' pension assignment contracts were high interest loans that were void from the start. These deceptive and unfair acts and practices violate state and federal laws protecting veterans.

Arkansas military service members, veterans and families can file consumer complaints with the Attorney General's office at ArkansasAG.gov.

About Attorney General Leslie Rutledge

Leslie Carol Rutledge is the 56th Attorney General of Arkansas. Elected on November 4, 2014, and sworn in on January 13, 2015, she is the first woman and first Republican in Arkansas history to be elected as Attorney General. She was resoundingly re-elected on November 6, 2018. Since taking office, she has significantly increased the number of arrests and convictions against online predators who exploit children and con artists who steal taxpayer money through Social Security Disability and Medicaid fraud. Further, she has held Rutledge Roundtable meetings and Mobile Office hours in every county of the State each year, and launched a Military and Veterans Initiative. She has led efforts to roll back government regulations that hurt job creators, fight the opioid epidemic, teach internet safety, combat domestic violence and make the office the top law firm for Arkansans. Rutledge serves on committees for Consumer Protection, Criminal Law and Veterans Affairs for the National Association of Attorneys General. She also served as the former Chairwoman of the Republican Attorneys General Association.

A native of Batesville, she is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. Rutledge clerked for the Arkansas Court of Appeals, was Deputy Counsel for former Governor Mike Huckabee, served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Lonoke County and was an Attorney at the Department of Human Services before serving as Counsel at the Republican National Committee. Rutledge and her husband, Boyce, have one daughter. The family has a home in Pulaski County and a farm in Crittenden County.

Stone County Sheriff's Department

Press Release

Drug Bust:  Approximately $82,000 street value of Crystal Meth seized in Stone County. 

According to Sheriff Lance Bonds, his department conducted a large-scale methamphetamine bust that landed two individuals in jail.  Jennifer L. Mannon, age 38, of Mountain View and Wesley R. Greenway, age 46 of Mountain View were arrested and charged with Trafficking Crystal Methamphetamine and other drug related charges. 

On June 23, 2022, Deputies Justin Meeks and Tony Trammell went to a residence on Pitard Loop in Stone County in an attempt to locate Jennifer Mannon, who is a parole absconder.  While at the residence deputies located Mannon and took her into custody.  Mannon and Greenway are on parole and probation with a search waiver on file.  A home visit was conducted and methamphetamine was located.  Lieutenant Trammell observed two bags of methamphetamine weighing approximately one-half pound lying on the floor behind a couch.  Investigator Meeks observed a smaller baggie of meth in a bedroom.  Both Mannon and Greenway was taken into custody for possession of meth. 

Chief Deputy Dammon McGilton was called to the scene.  A search warrant was obtained and just over a pound of meth was located in a safe.  The investigation continued on June 27th when Chief Deputy McGilton, Lieutenant Trammell, and Special Agent Sanders with the 16th Drug Task Force went back to the property and received consent to search from a person at the location.  A building was searched and an indoor marijuana grow was located as well as marijuana growing on the property.  A small amount of processed marijuana was located in the building along with a half-ounce of meth, meth paraphernalia, and psilocybin mushrooms which is a schedule I narcotic.  The total amount of Crystal Methamphetamine seized was 869 grams valued at approximately $82,000.00 street value.  There were approximately 28 grams of marijuana, and approximately 5 grams of psilocybin mushrooms seized. 

Greenway and Mannon are being charged with Trafficking over 200 grams of meth, a Class Y Felony; Maintaining a Drug Premises, a Class C Felony; Possession of a Schedule I Narcotic, (Psilocybin Mushrooms), with Purpose to Deliver, a Class B Felony; Possession of Marijuana with the Purpose to Deliver, a Class D Felony; Growing and Manufacturing of Marijuana, a Class D Felony; and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia with the Purpose to Weigh or use Crystal Meth, a Class D Felony.  Mannon was also charged as a habitual offender.  Bond was set on both individuals at $200,000.00. 

Sheriff Bonds said, "The drug investigation is ongoing and his department will continue to aggressively fight the war on drugs."

Also:

On the same day in an unrelated incident, Sheriff Bonds stated that Chad A. Dayberry, age 30, of Pleasant Grove, was arrested by Investigator Justin Meeks for probation violations and possession of crystal meth over 2 but less than 10 grams, a Class C Felony.  Dayberry was in possession of approximately 9 grams of crystal methamphetamine.  Dayberry's bond is set at $15,000.00.       

LITTLE ROCK - The school year is winding down, and many Arkansans are making summer vacation plans. Whether it is a trip to the beach, somewhere abroad, or one of Arkansas's many lakes or state parks, Arkansans should keep a watchful eye to avoid falling victim to a vacation scam. Scam artists are using the internet, including online advertising and social media, to pitch free or deeply discounted travel deals.

Many scammers will attempt to convince you that your friends and family members are taking advantage of this offer and you should too. Meanwhile, other scammers include being offered vacation rentals that look too good to be true. Travelers make the reservation and show up at the home or condo, only to find it was never up for rent and a scam artist stole photos and listing information to trick you out of hard earned cash. While it is possible to find a good travel deal or even win a vacation, you must stay mindful of the fact that there are bad actors seeking to ruin your fun by taking your money.   

"Scam artists will stop at nothing to take advantage of hard working Arkansans," said Attorney General Rutledge. "Fraudsters are constantly coming up with new ways to steal your money, but one thing never changes; if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is."

Attorney General Rutledge released the following list of common scams vacationers could encounter:

Some helpful travel tips include:

For more information on safe summer travel and other consumer-related issues or to file a consumer complaint, visit ArkansasAG.gov or contact the Attorney General's office at (800) 482-8982 or consumer@arkansasag.gov.

About Attorney General Leslie Rutledge

Leslie Carol Rutledge is the 56th Attorney General of Arkansas. Elected on November 4, 2014, and sworn in on January 13, 2015, she is the first woman and first Republican in Arkansas history to be elected as Attorney General. She was resoundingly re-elected on November 6, 2018. Since taking office, she has significantly increased the number of arrests and convictions against online predators who exploit children and con artists who steal taxpayer money through Social Security Disability and Medicaid fraud. Further, she has held Rutledge Roundtable meetings and Mobile Office hours in every county of the State each year, and launched a Military and Veterans Initiative. She has led efforts to roll back government regulations that hurt job creators, fight the opioid epidemic, teach internet safety, combat domestic violence and make the office the top law firm for Arkansans. Rutledge serves on committees for Consumer Protection, Criminal Law and Veterans Affairs for the National Association of Attorneys General. She also served as the former Chairwoman of the Republican Attorneys General Association.

A native of Batesville, she is a graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville and the University of Arkansas at Little Rock William H. Bowen School of Law. Rutledge clerked for the Arkansas Court of Appeals, was Deputy Counsel for former Governor Mike Huckabee, served as a Deputy Prosecuting Attorney in Lonoke County and was an Attorney at the Department of Human Services before serving as Counsel at the Republican National Committee. Rutledge and her husband, Boyce, have one daughter. The family has a home in Pulaski County and a farm in Crittenden County.

2022 Click It or Ticket

Step Up and Remind People to Buckle Up       

Face the Facts

Bust the Myths

Click It or Ticket - Day and Night

Learn more about the Click It or Ticket mobilization at www.nhtsa.gov/ciot.