Arkansas
Cracking down on crime: Arkansas police, lawmakers team up in effort to clean up streets, reduce crime
CRITTENDEN COUNTY, Ark. (WMC) – A major crackdown on crime is underway in Eastern Arkansas. State Police and prosecutors are teaming up with local law enforcement to get the bad guys off the street and in jail.
A former criminal defense attorney elected as the top prosecutor for Clay, Craighead, Crittenden, Greene, Mississippi, and Poinsett Counties told Action News 5 that her constituents asked her to get tough with criminals. Despite limited resources and manpower, she and her team are making good on a campaign promise to protect the citizenry.
“I hope it sends the message: don’t come here because we’re ready to go,” said Sonia F. Hagood, Prosecuting Attorney for Arkansas’ Second Judicial District.
Hagood recently announced her office won four First Degree Murder convictions in one day.
“I want those people who want to commit crimes in my district,” said Hagood, “to know that if I prep that case for trial, you’re not getting a plea deal on the last day. It’s going to trial, and the community is going to decide what your punishment is.”
On Friday, January 12, a Mississippi County jury found three Blytheville residents guilty of killing Javion Sims in a gun battle where more than 75 rounds were fired in a residential area on a sunny afternoon in April of 2021.
Joel Williams was sentenced to 40 years in prison. Willavontae Westmorland and Tyree Johnson each received a sentence of 35 years.
In Crittenden County, a jury found Jotavion Ross guilty of killing 21-year-old Samuel Johnson in December 2022, shooting him three times in front of his West Memphis home. Ross received a sentence of 41 years in prison.
Hagood praised the detective work done by the West Memphis Police Department in cracking the case. WMPD Sgt. Matthew Jarrett said criminal convictions like Ross’ will help officers solve more cases in the future.
“That will make us work harder,” Sgt. Jarrett told Action News 5, “because we know prosecutors are doing something, and this also gets a message out to the community that something is happening to the bad guys, don’t be afraid to come forward. Don’t be a silent victim.”
West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon, in a statement provided to Action News 5 said:
This week, Arkansas State Police saturated Crittenden County, along with West Memphis Police and Marion Police.
In eight hours, ASP said the East Arkansas Operation resulted in the arrests of 245 people, including 75 criminal arrests and 13 DWI arrests.
ASP said they also seized eight firearms and narcotics.
Up next for Attorney Hagood is getting Crittenden and Mississippi Counties designated high-drug trafficking areas to secure more federal funding.
“Memphis is, and all along the border of my district is,” she said, “designated high drug trafficking areas. With that comes a lot of gun violence, gang violence, and things like that, but for whatever reason we got left out. But in Crittenden and Mississippi Counties, there is a different kind of criminal. They’re very smart and they know the system.”
Hagood said police and prosecutors are also working with other agencies, leveraging community resources, to make sure kids stay in school, off the street, and away from a life of crime. She said they’re taking a multilevel approach to addressing what ails the community.
A critical piece of that is letting criminals know there are repercussions if they get caught.
“They’re going to pay the consequences for it,” said Sgt. Jarrett, “if you do the crime, you’re going to have to do the crime. With these convictions, and hopefully, many more to come, it will continue to send that message.”
Arkansas State Police has provided extensive information on the crime operation which can be found on their website.
The office of Prosecuting Attorney Hagood also released the following:
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BROOKLYN — Arkansas point guard Darius Acuff is the first of three Razorbacks off the board in the 2026 NBA Draft Tuesday night when he was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the No. 7 overall pick in the first round.
Acuff’s selection makes him the highest drafted player from Arkansas since 2023 when Anthony Black went No. 6 overall to the Orlando Magic.
He went into the night projected to be the first player from the Hogs taken following a phenomenal freshman year that saw him earn first team All-American honors, SEC Player of the Year, league freshman of the year, and SEC Tournament Most Valuable Player.
Likely his biggest accomplishment was becoming the first player to lead the SEC in points and assists since Pete Maravich in 1970.
As a freshman, Acuff averaged over 24 points, six assists and three rebounds on 48% shooting from the field, 44% from three and 81% from free throw line.
His knack as a bucket getter and facilitator lifted the Razorbacks to a different level in the postseason by averaging an astonishing 30 points, seven assists and one steal across six postseason tournament games.
He led Arkansas to a victory over Vanderbilt for the SEC Tournament Championship and back-to-back Sweet 16 appearances.
Arguably his best performance of the season came in a double-overtime classic in Tuscaloosa against Alabama when he dropped 49 points on 16-of-27 from the floor, 6-of-10 from three and 11-of-12 from the free throw line. He also contributed with five rebounds, five assists and only one turnover in 50 minutes.
And don’t forget, the 6-foot-2, 186 pound point guard did all of that on a bum ankle he sustained against Aubrn just four days prior.
During a media appearance on ESPN last week, Calipari made sure to warn NBA teams they will regret passing on superstar point guard.
“A great teammate. We all hear stuff. I’m around these kids, all they want to do is get better. They want to respect who’s coaching them,” Calipari told Colin Cowherd on The Herd. “And Darius Acuff, I’m telling you, there’s going to be some guys regretting [not picking him.]
“That’s okay. That’s okay. When he starts playing, you’ll remember this conversation, and we’re saying, ‘You’re going to regret not taking him.’”
Acuff is the latest in a growing list of coach John Calipari guards to be selected as lottery picks across his four decades in the college game. Former Kentucky stars Reed Sheppard, Rob Dillingham, John Wall, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, De’Aaron Fox and Brandon Knight.
During his time at Memphis, Calipari helped Derrick Rose, Tyreke Evans, and Dajuan Wagner were each lotter picks from 2000-2009.
The 2026 NBA Draft will continue with its second round Wednesday night at 7 p.m. CT from the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn will be broadcast nationally on ESPN.
Coach Cal Reaction
There haven’t been many times over the years that Calipari has missed out on watching one of his stars stroll across the stage to shake hands with the NBA Commissioner.
The second-year Razorbacks coach told the world Tuesday night that the Kings will be getting a “fierce competitor and winner” in Acuff.
With NBA Lottery pick and Sacramento Kings Guard Darius Acuff Jr!!! Congratulations to the entire family! The Kings are getting a fierce competitor and winner https://t.co/pk7T9H8e8b
— John Calipari (@CoachCalArk) June 24, 2026
Being drafted by Sacramento shouldn’t come as a surprise either as most mock drafts pegged him at No. 7 overall since the beginning of the college basketball offseason. With so many connections to the franchise, the Kings’ organization might be the perfect fit after all as General manager Scott Perry coached his father two decades ago at Eastern Kentucky.
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LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KAIT) – Registration is open for the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s annual urban deer hunt.
This year’s hunts will be held in Cherokee Village, Fairfield Bay, Heber Springs, Helena-West Helena, Horseshoe Bend and Russellville.
The archery-only hunts are designed to offer an “inexpensive and effective method of nuisance deer management,” according to an AGFC news release.
Deer harvested during the urban hunts do not count toward a hunter’s seasonal limit, and there are no limits to the number of deer that can be harvested.
However, the first deer taken must be donated to Arkansas Hunters Feeding the Hungry, which provides ground meat to food pantries across the state.
Hunters must pass the International Bowhunters Education Program before participating. The program is available at www.agfc.com/education/hunter-education.
Hunters also must attend orientation to learn the specific rules of the hunts and pass a shooting proficiency test.
For more information, visit www.agfc.com/urbanhunt.
To report a typo or correction, please click here.
Copyright 2026 KAIT. All rights reserved.
The Arkansas Lottery offers several draw games for those aiming to win big.
Here’s a look at Monday, June 22, 2026 results for each game:
Winning Powerball numbers from June 22 drawing
17-19-21-45-48, Powerball: 13, Power Play: 2
Check Powerball payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 3 numbers from June 22 drawing
Midday: 8-6-8
Evening: 4-9-7
Check Cash 3 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Cash 4 numbers from June 22 drawing
Midday: 4-4-6-9
Evening: 6-4-1-4
Check Cash 4 payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Natural State Jackpot numbers from June 22 drawing
07-17-23-28-32
Check Natural State Jackpot payouts and previous drawings here.
Winning Millionaire for Life numbers from June 22 drawing
07-08-20-24-42, Bonus: 05
Check Millionaire for Life payouts and previous drawings here.
Feeling lucky? Explore the latest lottery news & results
When are the Arkansas Lottery drawings held?
- Powerball: 9:59 p.m. CT on Monday, Wednesday, and Saturday.
- Mega Millions: 10 p.m. CT on Tuesday and Friday.
- Cash 3 Midday: 12:59 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
- Cash 3 Evening: 6:59 p.m. CT daily.
- Cash 4 Midday: 12:59 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
- Cash 4 Evening: 6:59 p.m. CT daily.
- Lucky For Life: 9:30 p.m. CT daily.
- Natural State Jackpot: 8 p.m. CT daily except Sunday.
- LOTTO: 9 p.m. CT on Wednesday and Saturday.
- Millionaire for Life: 10:15 p.m. CT daily.
This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by an Arkansas editor. You can send feedback using this form.
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