Search Under Way For Missing Shotgun

Friday, January 18, 2013

— Benton County Sheriff’s Office deputies spent hours Thursday searching for an unloaded shotgun that fell off a part-time deputy’s car Wednesday night.

Sheriff Kelley Cradduck said he was concerned about the danger of the missing shotgun and wanted to make the public aware of the incident.

The gun went missing Wednesday night, according to Cradduck, who had asked all part-time deputies to report to the Sheriff’s Office earlier that night for an inventory check of equipment in their possession.

The shotgun is a black 12-gauge Remington 870 pump action with a pistol grip and collapsible stock valued at $800, authorities said.

Deputy Mark Heiner placed the shotgun on top of his car and drove off after the meeting, Cradduck said. Video footage shows the shotgun on top of the car, and that was the last time it was seen.

Major Rob Holly said Heiner heard a noise while turning onto Walton Boulevard from Southwest 14th Street.

Cradduck said he plans to fire Heiner over the lost shotgun.

“I think it is an egregious offense,” Cradduck said. “It was clearly an accident. I can appreciate that, and it may have been different if we recovered the gun.”

The shotgun hadn’t been found by Thursday night. The shotgun has a Sheriff’s Office emblem on it and has been entered into a computer database system for missing or stolen weapons, Cradduck said.

The weapon isn’t loaded, but Cradduck said ammunition for it could be purchased.

“I’m sick,” Cradduck said. “I’m worried about the danger to the public and it costing a person their law enforcement career.”

Heiner worked as a full-time deputy before transferring to the part-time division. Part-time deputies earn $1 a month, and the duty is voluntary. They are used in patrol functions such as DWI enforcement and lake patrol, Holly said.

Cradduck encouraged anyone who has information about the shotgun or finds it to call the Sheriff’s Office at 479-271-1008.