Washington County leaders release Arkansas State Police report alleging long-running misuse of sheriff’s office property and funds

Washington County Judge Deakins told the Quorum Court on Sept. 16 that the county had posted an Arkansas State Police investigative file obtained via public-records request that alleges long-running misuse of county equipment and funds at the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.

The judge said the packet includes the State Police criminal-investigations division report and a county investigation, and he read excerpts that the county said show equipment purchased with taxpayer money was used on private property, cash from scrap-sales was kept outside county accounting, and internal controls were weak or absent.

The release matters because the county judge and state investigators recommended structural changes and noted potential civil remedies. “The special prosecuting attorney stated this investigation would be better handled as an illegal exaction case rather than a criminal case,” the judge said, quoting the prosecutor, and added that the prosecutor “did not exonerate anyone.” The judge told residents that “any citizen of the county can sue to address this violation in court” under Article 16, Section 13 of the Arkansas Constitution.

Chief Mike Stewart,…