Game & Fish commissioner Watkins resigns

Special to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette -- 01/23/2012 -- Lonoke County Sheriff booking photo - Rick Watkins, vice chairman of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission
Special to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette -- 01/23/2012 -- Lonoke County Sheriff booking photo - Rick Watkins, vice chairman of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Gov. Mike Beebe said Thursday that Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Vice Chairman Rick Watkins has resigned from his post.

Watkins, 54, was arrested Jan. 22 in Lonoke County and charged with misdemeanor public intoxication and disorderly conduct after he banged on the door of a rural Lonoke County home, "asking where his kids and truck was,” and then fired a shot into the ground, according to reports.

Lonoke County Sheriff John Staley said Watkins was cooperative with the arresting officers, who found a Glock .40-caliber handgun on the hood of a truck, with one round in the chamber and six in the magazine.

In a search of Watkins’ SUV, which had Arkansas Game and Fish Commissioner tags, deputies found “several bottles of alcoholic beverages,” as well as several firearms, according to reports.

Beebe said Watkins apologized for his actions.

"There wasn't a lot of explanation or reasoning necessary," he said. "I think everyone knows why he resigned."

Beebe said he would not "speculate" on whether he asked Watkins to step aside.

"I don't need to comment any further," Beebe said. "He resigned."

Watkins, a Little Rock native and graduate of the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville, is the owner and president of Watkins Co., a printing and distribution company in Little Rock. He also is an active volunteer with the Boy Scouts of America.

Beebe said Thursday that he believed Watkins would seek some form of help.

"He's humbled," the governor said.

Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.

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