Arkansas State Police, special prosecutor to investigate sale of police gun by Hoxie Police chief

HOXIE, Ark. (KAIT) – Arkansas State Police and a particular prosecutor have launched an investigation into the Hoxie police chief after it was revealed he bought a department-owned gun to a pawn store, in line with the town’s mayor.

In response to Hoxie Mayor Dennis Coggins, the town lawyer, Nancy Corridor, requested the investigation into the sale in mid-August, after chief Glen Smith was positioned on paid depart on Wednesday, Aug 3. Coggins stated Smith was put again on obligation on Monday, Aug. 22, regardless of the continued investigation.

Coggins stated he put Smith again on obligation as a result of he didn’t know the way lengthy the investigation would take, and he didn’t need to waste the cash of taxpayers. When requested why the chief was not positioned on unpaid depart through the investigation, Coggins stated he didn’t need “to have pay a refund” if Smith was to not be discovered of any wrongdoing.

Corridor instructed Area 8 Information in early August that her workplace acquired a tip that Smith bought a division gun to a pawn store and instantly started investigating.

In response to Corridor, the gun is again within the possession of the town and the case has been turned over to the prosecutor’s workplace, which declined to remark or affirm an investigation. Coggins confirmed that the gun is “behind the patrol automobile” when requested the place the gun was.

Arkansas State Police stated, “an agent assigned to the Particular Investigation Unit of the Arkansas State Police Prison Investigation Division has an energetic case open pertaining to an allegation {that a} shotgun bought by the Metropolis of Hoxie was probably resold to a non-public vendor with out authorization.”

A number of metropolis council members instructed Area 8 Information on Aug. 23 that that they had not been made conscious of the chief being positioned again on obligation.

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