ELKINS — An Elkins police officer is on administrative leave after he was arrested this week on allegations of unauthorized release of criminal history information.
Cpl. John P. Brown was placed on paid administrative leave Wednesday pending the outcome of the investigation, Police Chief John Williams said. Brown turned himself in at the Washington County Detention Center and was released about 35 minutes later after posting a $3,500 bond.
Brown is accused of looking up information on a Springdale couple in the Arkansas Crime InformationCenter database and telling his estranged wife what he found, according to an affidavit.
Unauthorized release or disclosure of criminal history information from the Arkansas Crime Information Center is a Class D felony, punishable by up to six years in prison and/or a fine of up to $10,000.
Brown also is facing misdemeanor charges of seconddegree terroristic threatening and harassing communications. Those charges involve purported threats against one member of the Springdale couple.
Brown denied breaking any laws and said he intendsto plead innocent at his April 7 arraignment. He also denied an allegation in the affidavit that he admitted during an interview with deputies that he had accessed restricted criminal history and released the information to his wife.
Elkins Mayor Jack Ladyman said he agrees with the chief’s decision to put Brown on leave pending an investigation. “We’re deeply concerned about officer Brown and his family and hope the situation gets resolved soon,” Ladyman said.
Brad Cazort, administrator of the Arkansas Crime Information Center’s Field Services Division, explained that while many of the records availablefrom the center are public records, the law specifically prohibits their release except for criminal justice purposes or authorized background checks.
About half of the states prohibit the release of this information, and the other half allow it. For example, Florida allows the public to order a criminal background check on someone, but Arkansas does not, he said.
Arkansas, Pages 13 on 03/27/2010