Springdale Volunteer Coach Arrested

Man In Jail In Connection With Running Prostitution Ring

— A volunteer football coach at Central Junior High School in Springdale was arrested by Bentonville police in connection with a variety of charges, including promoting prostitution.

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Foster

Christopher Wayne Foster, 27, of 14055 Wolf Drive in Rogers was also arrested Wednesday in connection with aggravated assault, kidnapping and theft of property.

Foster was arrested after an investigation into an incident reported about 6:29 p.m. Tuesday, according to a news release from the Bentonville Police Department.

A 23-year-old woman told police she jumped from Foster’s vehicle after he tried to detain her and drive away from the Southeast Walton Boulevard location where they met.

The woman told officers she had known Foster for about two months and worked for him as a personal assistant after answering an ad on craigslist.org.

When she learned Foster was allegedly involved in a prostitution ring, she quit, according to police. She told investigators she met with Foster on Tuesday because he promised to pay her back wages

However, when she got into the vehicle, Foster grabbed her cell phone and sped away, the woman told police. The woman received minor injuries when she jumped from the vehicle.

Foster was located by Arkansas State Police on Interstate 540 near Springdale and arrested.

At the time of his arrest, Foster was accompanied by two women, ages 19 and 20, determined by police to be employed by Foster as prostitutes, according to the news release.

One of the women told police she met Foster after she learned on Facebook he was looking for a personal assistant.

Foster served as a volunteer coach with the Central Junior High School football team last semester.

Fred Hartsfield, Central football coach, declined to comment on Foster’s involvement with the team and referred questions to Principal Darrell Watts.

Foster’s application to serve as a volunteer was reviewed and approved by district officials, Watts said.

Volunteer coach applications are reviewed by Springdale Athletic Director Annette Scogin, who meets with the applicants. She then forwards the application to Hartzell Jones, deputy superintendent for personnel, and he sends the application to Superintendent Jim Rollins.

The 2009 season was Foster’s first with the team, said Watts. He also worked one and a half days as substitute teacher for the school.

Foster worked once with the team since the regular season ended at a spring football skills camp, said Rick Schaeffer, spokesman for the district. He was taken off the list of approved coaches Thursday when officials received word of his arrest.

Watts said he did not know of any problems with Foster during his time as a volunteer or substitute.

“At no point was his name ever mentioned to me out of concern,” Watts said.

Foster filled out a volunteer information form saying he attended the University of Arkansas. According to the registrar’s office, Foster applied to but never attended the university.

Foster was being held Thursday in the Benton County Jail with no bond set. Benton County Prosecutor Van Stone said Foster’s bond hearing is today.

Foster is the second volunteer Springdale coach arrested in less than a month.

Brett Wayne Foster, 21, of Fayetteville was arrested in connection with two counts of first-degree sexual assault. He allegedly had sex with a 17-year-old student who was a member of the Springdale Har-Ber High School track team.

It could not be determined Thursday if the two men are related.

In Brett Foster’s case, he was never approved to serve as a volunteer coach by Scogin and his application never made it through the administration’s chain of command, school officials said.

Brett Foster is scheduled for arraignment Monday in Washington County Circuit Court.

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