A Highfill police officer has been suspended and the police chief has resigned over a Pea Ridge population sign worth about $100.
The sign went missing about 2 1/2 years ago.
Officer Jeremy Wall was suspended after a Benton County Sheriff’s Office investigation last month showed he went into another man’s garage and took a sign he then had returned to Pea Ridge. The sign had been found by a teen years earlier and wasn't stolen, according to the Sheriff’s Office incident report.
The men who had the sign say officers shouldn't have taken it without a warrant or permission.
“The Highfill officers violated our civil rights,” said Will Battles, who complained about Wall’s actions to Mayor Stacy Digby. “My problem is that they came onto my property and took the sign without asking.”
Police Chief Tim Ledbetter said a high school student said he found the sign in a field on Arkansas 72 about 2 1/2 years ago. The youth later gave the sign to his brother. About 8 months ago, the brother moved in with Battles and brought the sign with him, according to the report.
Wall was at Battles’ house recently and saw the sign, Battles said. Wall told Police Chief Chuck Eggebrecht about the sign, according to the report. Eggebrecht told his wife, Clela, who is a Pea Ridge police officer. She called the Pea Ridge Street Department where she was told they wanted the sign returned.
Wall told Eggebrecht he had permission from Gregory “Blake” Webb, who also lived with Battles, to retrieve the sign. Webb denied talking to Wall about the sign or giving permission to take it, according to the incident report. Battles said he never gave permission, either.
Battles is a Highfill firefighter. Webb is a police officer for Gravette and a part-time officer in Gentry.
Eggebrecht gave Wall permission to get the sign, which ended up being given to Clela Eggebrecht who returned the sign to Ledbetter.
“They just took it,” Battles said, noting officers knew how to contact him.
Battles called Digby on Sept. 10 to complain an officer had entered his “shop” without permission or a warrant and took the sign. By Sept. 13, the Sheriff’s Office was investigating.
A Pea Ridge officer was reprimanded over the incident, according to the report.
This week, Chuck Eggebrecht resigned over Wall’s reprimand.
Pea Ridge isn't pursuing any theft charges. The Sheriff’s Office decided the officers didn’t have criminal intent and isn't pursuing the case, Benton County Prosecutor Van Stone said Thursday.
The hubbub in Highfill means the Sheriff’s Office will take up extra patrols and respond to calls in the city, said Keshia Guyll, Sheriff’s Office spokeswoman. Deputies have helped Highfill as needed previously, she said.
“We don’t want the citizens to feel like they aren’t being protected,” Guyll said.
Wall and Eggebrecht didn't return messages left Thursday before press time.
Highfill's Recorder-Treasurer Stacie Williamson referred all questions to Digby, who did not respond Thursday before press time.