MENA POLICE REPORTS

March 12

A report of theft was taken from Walmart.

March 13

Rocky Daugherty, 31, was charged with Disorderly Conduct and Public Intoxication at Janssen Park.

Kaleb Birtcher, 25, was served with a warrant after a traffic stop on South Reine Street.

Kathy Harper, 43, was served with warrants after a traffic stop on Pine Avenue.

A report of fleeing, reckless driving, possession of meth, and possession of drug paraphernalia was taken after an attempted traffic stop on Racetrack Road.

Shawna Morris, 26, was charged with Possession of Marijuana and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia after a traffic stop on Highway 71.

March 14

A missing persons report was taken at a residence on Oak Grove.

Benjamin McKnight, 28, was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Driving on Suspended License after a traffic stop on Highway 71.

Jody Carter, 38, was served with a warrant at the detention center.

March 15 No report.

March 16

Joshua Lott, 42, was charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and served with a warrant at a residence on 11th Street.

Charles Solo, 50, was served with warrants at a residence on 11th Street.

A report of theft was taken from a walk-in complainant.

A report of breaking or entering was taken at a residence on Himes Avenue.

A report of theft was taken from a walk-in complainant.

A report of criminal mischief was taken from a walk-in complainant.

A report of a disturbance was taken at a residence on 4th Street.

March 17

Martin Rodriguez, 21, was served with a warrant after a traffic stop on Highway 71.

Michelle Huff, 47, was served with a warrant at the detention center.

March 18

John Hollis, 26, was charged with Battery 3rd and Terroristic Threatening after a disturbance call to Missouri Avenue.

A report of theft of property was taken from Walmart.

Prosecutor named in lawsuit regarding child abuser

By Patrick Massey

PIKE COUNTY - Ninth West Judicial District prosecutor Jana Bradford has been named as a defendant in a civil lawsuit in connection with her uncle Barry Walker who is a convicted child sex offender. Bradford is being sued in her individual capacity and not as the prosecuting attorney.

58-year-old Walker was convicted of raping more than 30 prepubescent girls over the span of two decades. During that time, Bradford served as a deputy prosecutor and was a mandated reporter of child maltreatment.

The lawsuit alleges that Bradford had knowledge of Walker’s behavior and never ‘took any steps to protect other prepubescent females’ from Walker.

However, the suit claims Bradford took various steps to protect her uncle. According to the lawsuit, Bradford attempted to have Walker removed from the sex offender’s registry in 2018 and she attempted to have him pardoned in 2004.

According to the lawsuit, Bradford and other relatives ‘worked collectively to develop a strategy to protect Walker with respect to the investigations because they knew a negative finding could harm the family’s reputation and political interests.’

Currently, six individuals and two Walker-owned businesses have been named as defendants. The total number of defendants is 11. The complaint is 164-pages in length and includes numerous transcribed discussions between Walker and his brother, who is among the defendants.

The plaintiffs are being represented by the Texarkana-based Mercy Carter Law Firm. Bradford won an election in 2022 for district prosecutor of Sevier, Howard, Pike and Little River Counties.

Walker was convicted in October of several dozen counts ranging from rape to computer child exploitation and producing illicit material involving a child. He was sentenced to a total of 18 life sentences in Pike County. [Eds. We reached out to Bradford’s office for comment on the lawsuit but a response has not been returned.]

Keep Arkansas Beautiful spring campaign underway

By Patrick Massey

The Keep Arkansas Beautiful Commission (KAB) announced March 21 the kickoff of the 2023 Keep America Beautiful™ Great American Cleanup® (GAmC) in Arkansas. This year’s GAmC runs from March 1 - May 31. Arkansans interested in doing their part to help keep Arkansas beautiful can recruit volunteers and host their own cleanups or sign up to volunteer at an event near them.

“Arkansas had record-breaking turnout for our 2022 cleanup seasons,” said Colbie Jones, director at KAB. “Nearly 18,000 people volunteered from all 75 counties across the state. That’s a tough act to follow, but we’re confident Arkansans can come together again to match or even exceed those numbers during the 2023 Great American Cleanup.”

KAB invites individuals and groups to sign up to volunteer or organize a local event during the GAmC at https://bit. ly/GAC2023SignUp. Organizers can use KAB’s free educational resources and print-ready promotional items to help recruit volunteers and learn how to organize a cleanup. These resources and free supplies like disposable gloves, cotton gloves and fluorescent safety vests are available through KAB by visiting http:// bit.ly/KABClean

“Spring is almost here, which means it’s time for volunteers to get outside and get involved in a local cleanup,” said Robyn Taylor, volunteer program manager. “It takes the work of Arkansans from all over to keep our communities clean and litter free, and we want everyone to feel encouraged to register to participate in a cleanup this spring.”

During GAmC cleanup events, volunteers are encouraged to use safety precautions, including not picking up litter with bare hands, wearing bright safety vests along roadways and ensuring children are accompanied by an adult while collecting litter.

For more information, visit keeparkansasbeautiful.com/get-involved/cleanups