July 26, 2008
ROGERS - A rear-end collision last month left a Rogers police officer out of a job Friday. Officer Billy Williams resigned from his position, according to Police Chief Steve Helms, while under investigation for failing to report the on-duty crash.
According to a report by Arkansas State Police Cpl. Mike Morgan, at about 1 p.m. June 24, Williams' police-issued Crown Victoria collided at the intersection of Dixieland Road and Oak Street with the tail end of a Toyota Corolla driven by Carlos Perez, of Siloam Springs. Perez was in the left lane on Dixieland, waiting to turn left onto Oak.
In his accident statement, Williams said his foot slipped off the brake and hit the accelerator. He hit the break again, but not in time to avoid hitting the other vehicle.
Carter Appraisal Service in North Little Rock estimated the damage to Perez's car at $ 858. 43. Bob Maloney Ford of Rogers estimated the police car's damage at $ 478. 95.
But it is one sentence at the end of Morgan's report that caused the most problems for Williams: "This report was taken as a delayed report the following day after the accident."
The reason for the delay is that Williams did not immediately report the collision, Helms said Friday. Williams checked the conditions of Perez and his passenger and, upon their contention that they were not injured, left the scene without filing a report.
The damage, Helms said, seems extensive, but it was made more severe by the kind of bumpers installed on the vehicles. The damage, he said, was barely noticeable.
Helms said the policy of the Police Department is to report every officer-involved accident, and he said Williams was aware of the rules. The department didn't learn until later that the accident had occurred, not until Perez's passenger, Fatima Gomez, of Siloam Springs, complained of back and neck pains. In Perez's accident report, he indicated that he was also injured in the accident.
Helms said there was a reason for Perez's interest in not reporting the crash. He was driving without a license, and there was an active warrant for his arrest for contempt, issued by the Rogers District Court.
Helms did not release the details of the investigation into Williams, but said a report will be filed with the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training, as is required when an officer resigns with investigation results still pending.
Still, Helms defended Williams.
"Good guy," Helms said. "Very good trooper. Hate to lose him."
Before Williams' resignation, the department had filled its last vacancy.
"We got fully staffed, and now we're one down," Helms said. "But we've got somebody ready to fill that position."
A replacement could be ready in a week or two, thanks to a plethora of recent recruit testing, but Helms said the rookie officer would have to start from scratch on training, leaving a gap between his or her hire and entry into enforcement duties.
A name like Crook, She had to do it all
Marion County Sheriff's Office employee is accused of making about $5,000 in personal purchases —— including a riding lawn mower —— on a credit card belonging to the Marion County Sheriff's Department.
Rebecca Crook, 40, was arrested on charges of fraudulent use of a credit or debit card, theft of property and computer fraud, according to documents filed Thursday in Marion County Circuit Court.
The incident was investigated primarily by the Arkansas State Police, said 14th Judicial District Prosecutor Ron Kincade.
In March, Crook allegedly bought a riding lawn mower for $2,445.26, which was delivered to her residence, according to court documents. Between January and February, she allegedly spent about $1,416.34 on personal items, according to court documents.
On Tuesday, Crook allegedly admitted to officers she spent about $5,000 on the credit cards and had bought groceries, medicine and gasoline, according to court documents.
She also allegedly told officers she used the sheriff's office credit card to buy medication over the Internet and bought gasoline for her personal vehicle using a gas credit card belonging to the sheriff's office, according to court documents.
