Drew County Sheriff’s Office, AR – K9 Aiko has received a bullet and stab protective vest thanks to a charitable donation from non-profit organization Vested Interest in K9s, Inc.  K9 Aiko’s vest was embroidered with the sentiment “Born to Love-Trained to Serve-Loyal Always”. 

 Vested Interest in K9s, Inc., established in 2009, is a 501(c)(3) charity whose mission is to provide bullet and stab protective vests and other assistance to dogs of law enforcement and related agencies throughout the United States. This potentially lifesaving body armor for four-legged K9 officers is U.S. made, custom fitted, and National Institute of Justice (NIJ) certified.  Since its inception, Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. has provided over 6,397 vests valued at $6.9 million to K9s in all 50 states, made possible by both private and corporate donations.   

On August 18, 2026 the 10th was called to assist Monticello Police Officers on a traffic stop in Monticello. During the stop the Monticello Sgt located a bag containing over 100 grams of suspected methamphetamine, digital scales, and 2 glass pipes. In a backpack officers located another bag of suspected methamphetamine weighing approximately 18 grams. Over $900 was seized.

The driver Caleb Walters was charged Possession of Methamphetamine with Purpose to Deliver, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Improper Lane Change. The passenger, David Brazle, was charged Possession of Methamphetamine. Both subjects are awaiting a first appearance.

The 10th DTF wants to thank the Monticello Officers for their hard work and continued effort to help keep the streets clean from these dangerous drugs.

On August 19th, 2026, an Ashley County jury found Rosario Ford Jr., a 34-year-old Crossett resident and violent habitual offender, guilty of multiple felony charges.

The conviction stems from an investigation by the Crossett Police Department into a report from the victim regarding an incident on December 13, 2025. The victim reported that Ford threatened to “blow her brains out” while possessing a firearm. The Tenth Judicial District Prosecution Attorney’s Office charged Ford as a habitual offender with the offenses of Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree, a Class D Felony and Felon in Possession of a Firearm, a Class B Felony.

During the one-day jury trial Chief Deputy Prosecutor Attorney Sandra Bradshaw presented testimony from the victim and additional witnesses along with home surveillance video. Ford was represented by attorney Joe Mazzanti. After hearing all the evidence, the jury found Ford guilty of both charges.

On September 2, 2026, after a two-day jury trial, a Drew County jury convicted Taiwan Collins of two counts of Murder in the First Degree and one count of Terroristic Act. The convictions stemmed from the December 3, 2023, shooting at the old Wilmar High School.

Agents from the Arkansas State Police and the Drew County Sheriff’s Office investigated the shooting that ultimately ended in the death of two people. The shooting occurred shortly after the party concluded at approximately 2:10 in the morning. The City of Wilmar uses the old high school as a community center and in the past has rented out the facilities for events.

Jurors heard testimony from witnesses at the scene and that officers arrived at the at the school to find the bodies of Suquorey Pitts, and Independence Young. Special Agent Bo Norris testified that while processing the scene 100 shell casings were collected. Those shell casings were sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab for firearms and tool marks examination, and the bodies were sent to the medical examiner’s office to determine the cause of death.

Associate Medical Examiner, Dr. Teddi Tubre testified that the cause of death for both men was gunshot wounds. Further testimony indicated that multiple firearms were used in the commission of the indicating multiple individuals firing weapons.

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Monticello Police Department is helping another agency locate a white,slender, bald male with dementia. He is driving a silver Toyota Tacoma truck, license plate 397 076. Please call the police department at 870-367-3411 if you see this individual or vehicle. We will update as soon as we get more information.

Update: the soft lockdown at Drew Central and Monticello School District has been lifted, and they are resuming normal operations. Thank you for your patience and cooperation.

Both Monticello School District and Drew Central Schools are on lockdown as the Monticello Police Department is trying to locate a dementia patient whose phone has pinged in the woods between MES and Drew Central. There is no imminent danger to students and staff.

Situations like this can understandably create concern for parents and community members, but precautionary lockdowns allow law enforcement to move freely and conduct a thorough search without any interference or risk to the public.

We will issue updates as they become available.

A jury in Ashley County has found Michael Hicks guilty of sexual assault in the second degree following a trial in Ashley County Circuit Court before Judge Robert Gibson III.

The conviction stems from a 2023 investigation by the Arkansas State Police Crime Against Children Division and the Ashley County Sheriff’s Office concluding that Hicks engaged in illegal sexual contact with a minor under the age of 14.

Chief Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Sandra Bradshaw, represented the State of Arkansas. Hicks was represented by defense attorney Joe Mazzanti. After both parties presented their sides of the case, the jury found Hicks guilty.

The Tenth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Frank Spain announced that an Ashley County jury has convicted Aaron Dewayne Rice on multiple felony drug charges and sentenced him to a total of 112 years in the Arkansas Department of Correction.

The conviction stems from an investigation conducted by agents with the 10th Judicial District Drug Task Force and the Ashley County Sheriff’s Department following a traffic stop on October 17, 2025.

According to trial testimony, Drug Task Force Agents Ben Michel and James Slaughter were on patrol on the Highway 278 Bypass in Monticello when they observed a black Chevrolet pickup registered to Aaron Rice, whose driver’s license was known to be suspended. When agents initiated a traffic stop, the vehicle continued traveling for approximately three-quarters of a mile while weaving between the roadway and shoulder.

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The Tenth DTF, Monticello Police Department, and Drew County Sheriff Department held Active Shooter training at Drew Central School on July 10, 2026.

Officers from all 3 departments and SRO”s from Drew Central and Monticello School District trained on faster response times, room clearing, and engaging the threat.

The Monticello Police Department is seeking the public’s assistance in identifying the two individuals pictured in connection with an ongoing investigation.

If you recognize either of these individuals or have any information that may assist investigators, please contact the Monticello Police Department at 870-367-3414.

Any information, no matter how small it may seem, could be helpful. Thank you for your cooperation and continued support.

On January 7, 2025, at approximately 7:20 p.m., Arkansas State Trooper Nathan Jynes conducted a traffic stop on Cherry Street in McGehee after observing a vehicle traveling with a non-functioning taillight and failing to signal before turning onto Choctaw Road. The vehicle, a gold Honda Accord, was occupied by Thompson and passenger Adrian Horton.

During the stop, Trooper Jynes observed Thompson’s right hand shaking excessively and learned that Thompson did not possess a valid Arkansas driver’s license. When asked whether anything illegal was inside the vehicle, Thompson admitted there was a gun. Because Thompson did not have a valid license, the vehicle was to be towed, and Trooper Jynes conducted an administrative inventory.

Under the front passenger seat, Trooper Jynes located a black Springfield XD?40 handgun. Thompson waived his Miranda rights and told Trooper Jynes he was taking the firearm back to an acquaintance. Thompson was not booked at the time of the incident due to the Desha County Jail being unable to accept prisoners.

Prosecuting Attorney Frank Spain announced today that Johntavious Owens has been sentenced to a total of 720 months (60 years) in the Arkansas Department of Corrections following his conviction for the fatal shooting of Kevin Morgan in McGehee.

The case stems from an incident that occurred on Saturday, December 14, 2024, at approximately 12:53 a.m., when McGehee Police Department officers were dispatched to 806 North 3rd Street in response to reports of gunfire. While en route, officers were advised that an individual had been shot.

Upon arrival, officers observed multiple individuals gathered around a white Chevrolet Avalanche parked in the driveway. Inside the vehicle, officers found the victim, later identified as Kevin Morgan, suffering from a gunshot wound to the back of his head. The vehicle displayed multiple bullet holes consistent with gunfire directed into the rear of the vehicle. Morgan was pronounced deceased at the scene by emergency medical personnel.

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On March 12, 2026, a Drew County jury found Phyllis Faye Farmer guilty of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, arising from an April 7, 2025, incident in Wilmar, Arkansas, where Drew County Deputies responded to a report that Farmer had threatened another woman while displaying a firearm during a confrontation at a residence in Wilmar.

At trial, the State was represented by Kelley E. Fortenberry of the Tenth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and Ms. Farmer was represented by her attorney. Rickey Hicks.

The jury heard testimony that witnesses reported that Farmer entered the home yelling and making threats, then later produced a handgun while outside the residence.

On May 13th, 2026, Drew County jury convicted Jimmie L. Foster of Dermott on a charge of Felon in Possession of a Firearm following a traffic stop and subsequent investigation conducted by the Arkansas State Police.

The incident occurred on Friday, May 17, 2024, at approximately 11:30 a.m., when Arkansas State Police Trooper David Menotti initiated a traffic stop on State Highway 35 East in Drew County. The driver was identified as Jimmie L. Foster. Also in the vehicle were front seat passenger Larry Woods and rear seat passenger Jessica Hardie, both of Dermott.

During the stop, Trooper Menotti determined that Foster was operating the vehicle with a suspended driver’s license. Trooper Menotti asked all occupants to exit the vehicle and conducted a search. During the search, a loaded SAR Arms 9mm handgun was discovered beneath the driver’s seat where Foster had been seated. Foster was placed under arrest and transported to the Drew County Detention Facility for processing. Woods and Hardie were released at the scene.

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The Bradley County Sheriff’s Office transported 75-year-old Grady Burch to the Arkansas Department of Correction (ADC) this morning to begin serving a 10-year prison sentence. Burch’s transport follows his April 10, 2026, conviction in Bradley County on multiple felony charges, including simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms and possession of controlled substances including hydrocodone, amphetamine, and carisoprodol, and felon in possession of a firearm.

The conviction stems from an October 21, 2025, operation where agents with the Tenth Judicial District Drug Task Force and the Bradley County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at Burch’s residence on Bradley Road 92. During the search, officers recovered a variety of controlled substances, including hydrocodone, amphetamine, and carisoprodol, along with gabapentin, THC products, and marijuana.

A Drew County jury today convicted Sabrina Anderson of Felon in Possession of a Firearm, a Class B felony, following a November 6, 2025, incident in Monticello. The jury recommended a sentence of ten (10) years in the Arkansas Department of Correction, which was imposed by Judge Robert Gibson III. Due to the defendant’s criminal history, Anderson will not be eligible for parole. The case stemmed from an encounter on November 6, 2025, when Officer Jaden Richardson of the Monticello Police Department observed Anderson attempting to hide upon seeing his patrol vehicle. After making contact, Officer Richardson determined that Anderson was on active probation with a search waiver on file. Upon being informed that a search would be conducted, Anderson became upset and uncooperative before eventually complying.

On Wednesday, September 10, 2025, the Warren Police Department, assisted by the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division (CID), investigated a reported burglary and rape of a woman who was nine months pregnant, occurring within the city limits of Warren, Arkansas. 

The case file was submitted to the Tenth Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office, and Tilton Hill of Warren was subsequently charged with aggravated residential burglary, kidnapping, and two counts of rape.

At trial, a witness testified that she was driving home from morning school drop-off when she noticed the victim crawling toward the road. The witness stopped to assist and called 911, reporting a Hispanic female covered in blood in the front yard of a residence located at 1401 West Pine Street. She also testified that the victim had a belt around her hands and another belt wrapped around her neck.

Christina Mix, 52, of Monticello, was found guilty of Possession of More Than 2 Grams of Methamphetamine and related charges and was sentenced to fifteen (15) years in the Arkansas Department of Correction following a jury trial in Drew County.

The charges arose from an October 30, 2025, traffic stop conducted by officers with the Monticello Police Department. During the stop, officers learned that Mix had an active felony warrant for her arrest. A search of the vehicle uncovered a container near Mix’s purse that held approximately 8.8 grams of methamphetamine, marijuana, and two glass pipes containing suspected drug residue.

Mix was also charged as a habitual offender based on more than two prior felony convictions. Under Arkansas law, habitual offenders are not eligible for probation or a suspended sentence. Mix’s prior criminal history includes a 2018 conviction for possession of methamphetamine for which she received probation. While on probation in 2019, she committed another methamphetamine offense, resulting in the revocation of her probation and a 24?month sentence to a Community Correction Center.