Arkansas sheriff, 57, arrested for drug and gun possession after being pulled over for speeding – all after pledging to lead “by acting responsibly” during the campaign
- An Arkansas sheriff was arrested Saturday night for speeding and possession of drugs and firearms
- Jimmy Stephens, 57, was committed to the Crawford County Detention Center
- Arkansas State Police confirmed the man’s arrest to local media, saying he was taken into custody for alleged possession of “firearms and drugs.”
- In a flyer shared on his campaign page in 2018, Stephens pledged to lead his constituents “by acting responsibly.”
- Stephens will appear in court in Crawford County on Monday
An Arkansas sheriff who previously told voters he plans to lead “by acting responsibly” was arrested Saturday night on suspicion of possession of illegal drugs and firearms.
Johnson County Sheriff Jimmy Stephens, 57, was arrested by Arkansas State Police during a traffic stop Saturday night and found with a firearm and drugs, according to PIO Bill Sadler.
When asked for more information, Sadler told the Chron: “No further comment until his first hearing”. The PIO initially told it was a “pistol” but later went back on his claim and said it was a “firearm”.
According to the Fort Smith Times, Stephens was booked into the Crawford County Detention Center at 8:46 p.m. Saturday on three complaints of possession of a controlled substance and one complaint of speeding.
Johnson County Sheriff Jimmy Stephens, 57, was arrested on suspicion of drug and firearm possession, officials said
Stephens was committed to the Crawford County Detention Center on Saturday
He was released Sunday on $25,000 bail, according to local officials. He is next expected in court on Monday.
The news could come as a shock to his constituents, who know the Republican for his pledge to lead “by acting responsibly.”
In a 2018 post on his campaign’s Facebook page, Stephens listed a number of promises people would make if they elected him their sheriff.
“I promise to hold myself and all employees to the highest standard of professional conduct and morals,” he said at the time.
Stephens also said ahead of the election that he believed “there needs to be a proactive approach to dealing with criminal behavior.”
reached out to the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office, who said they currently have no explanation.
Stephens was in possession of a firearm and drugs at the time of his arrest, officials said
A flyer posted to his Facebook page in 2018 details the promises he made to voters ahead of his election
The Republican, sixth from left, vowed to lead “by acting responsibly.”
Stephens was later elected sheriff and reelected in May.
In this year’s election, Stephens Johnson County won 62 percent.
Earlier this year, the sheriff also posted callouts on his law enforcement page asking for volunteers for Red Ribbon Week 2022.
According to their website, the Red Ribbon Week Campaign is the largest drug abuse prevention campaign in the United States.
reached out to Stephens for comment, but efforts to reach him were unsuccessful.
Stephens, along with his wife Traci, twice published an appeal to his Facebook followers, urging people to get involved in Red Ribbon Week, an anti-drug campaign
Johnson County is about 40 minutes northeast of Fort Smith and has a population of about 25,000.
Crawford County, where Stephens was arrested, borders Oklahoma.
Officials have not yet released the city where the sheriff was taken into custody.
Stephens is the Johnson County sheriff but was arrested by the Arkansas State Police in Crawford County