PRAIRIE GROVE -- A University of Arkansas police officer recently resigned from the department after being found guilty of second degree imprisonment, a misdemeanor, in Prairie Grove District Court.
The verdict, rendered by district Judge Graham Nations on Dec. 18, resulted from an incident that occurred June 6, 2014, at a residence on Parks Street in Prairie Grove, according to a Prairie Grove police report.
Christopher Riggins, who had been with U.A. Police Department since January 2011, submitted his resignation Jan. 14, according to Stephen Gahagans, director of U.A. Police Department. Riggins was not on duty at the time of the incident but the police report notes that his occupation was as a police officer with University of Arkansas.
Gahagans said Riggins had been placed on light duty pending the outcome of the case. When the judge made his decision, Riggins reported it to the U.A. police, indicating he would resign and follow up on other avenues, Gahagans said.
According to the Prairie Grove police report, the department received a call from a woman on Parks Street that a bondsman was at her house and had punched a man in her front yard.
The report says that Riggins and Travis Robinson, a bail bondsman from Fayetteville, had been at the house looking for a man who was out of jail on bond.
According to the police report, the woman told police she wanted to leave her house because she did not want to be in a hostile environment. She stated Riggins would not move away from the door to let her leave. The report indicated the woman testified Robinson struck her husband in the face. In a later interview, Riggins stated he told the woman to wait and not leave for safety reasons.
After the incident and subsequent investigation, the police report was forwarded to the city prosecutor, said Prairie Grove police Capt. Jeff O'Brien on Friday. O'Brien said the city prosecutor filed charges against Riggins and Robinson. Robinson was charged with battery, third degree, also a misdemeanor.
A trial for Riggins and Robinson was held Dec. 2 in District Court, according to Susie Copeland, court clerk. Nations asked both sides to submit briefs and he later issued guilty verdicts on both charges.
Robinson's verdict included $640 in fines and community service. He has appealed the decision to Washington County Circuit Court.
Riggins was ordered to pay $370 in court fees and fines, which have been paid, Copeland said.
General News on 01/28/2015