MOUNTAIN VIEW — Many of those who know him say he is a great friend. Loyalty comes with being a great friend, and Stone County Sheriff Todd Hudspeth is loyal to his county. Although he won’t be serving a third term as sheriff, he said he has no plans to leave his hometown of Mountain View.
Hudspeth has spent his adult life in law enforcement. At the age of 19, in 1995, he went to work as a jailer and dispatcher at the Stone County Jail. Four years later, he was promoted to deputy sheriff and later worked his way up to chief deputy.
Although Hudspeth has spent his adulthood in law enforcement, he said it never crossed his mind to join the police force until he quit his factory job and went to work at the jail.
“The more you get, the more you want,” Hudspeth said about working in law enforcement. “As time went on, I really started liking it.”
On July 5, 1999, he attended the police academy and “hit the ground running on Jan. 1, 1999,” in his new position under the new sheriff at the time, Bill Jason.
“It was just meant to be, and I look back on it 15 years later, and it happened awful fast,” Hudspeth said.
In August 2000, Hudspeth went to work for the 16th Judicial Drug Task Force, which he said was not only one of the most challenging jobs he has had, but the most fun he ever had in law enforcement.
Serving five counties, DTF members faced many provocations and helped take a bite out of the methamphetamine epidemic in the district.
“The meth lab problem in Independence, well, there was a meth lab going somewhere all the time,” Hudspeth said. “There were times we averaged two [meth busts] a week.”
Hudspeth said it takes a good three days to complete a drug bust, including about 12 hours on the scene.
“We really don’t see much of it anymore,” he said. “We’ve seen less than half-a-dozen meth labs in four years in Stone County.”
Recalling one case for which he was the lead investigator, Hudspeth said there was a tip on some drug activity and some stolen property on a ranch. A search warrant was obtained, and Hudspeth and a couple of other investigators went onto the property after dark. In a quick helicopter landing by the Arkansas State Police, the DTF agents darted out of the chopper and took down a huge criminal operation.
On a lighter note, Hudspeth laughed as he confessed his fear of snakes and how an investigation led to an encounter.
“I am terrified of snakes, and it was wintertime, and we got a call from Tunica County, Miss., that some people from Fulton County were caught buying meth components,” Hudspeth said. “We went to investigate their residence in Salem — it was like 10 degrees — and we got a search warrant and went in their mobile home.”
Hudspeth said he saw an aquarium when he walked in but didn’t really think much about it — until a handwritten note was spotted on a bedroom door that read, “Snakes in this bedroom.”
“There was a food pantry in the kitchen the size of a walk-in closet,” Hudspeth recalled, laughing. “I opened the door, pulled the chain for the light, and a 13-foot python coiled up at my feet.”
He said he was speechless and ran out the front door.
“I later found out that the female subject slept in the bed with [the snakes],” Hudspeth said with a shudder.
Sharp County Sheriff Dale Weaver was the administrator and investigator for the DTF during the time Hudspeth was on the team.
“One of the great things about Todd is he isn’t just a good officer; he is just a good people person and easy to get along with,” Weaver said. “He is really just a good friend.”
Weaver added that it is difficult sometimes for a supervisor to be good friends with someone who works for him, but he and Hudspeth were able to create a lasting bond.
“Stone County isn’t that far from Sharp County, and we have had a really good relationship, both being sheriffs,” Weaver said.
After working in Van Buren County for four years as chief deputy, Hudspeth decided to run for Stone County sheriff. He was only 29 years old when he was elected, which he said makes him one of, if not the, youngest elected sheriffs in Arkansas.
During the election for his third term, Hudspeth found himself in one of the most controversial political races in the state’s history.
“I had 49.7 percent in the primary,” Hudspeth said. “I think if I had had 14 more votes, I would have won the election outright.”
The Democratic primary led to a runoff between Hudspeth and longtime friend Lance Bonds. Then the runoff resulted in a tie, which then led to a special election, in which Bonds was chosen as the Democratic nominee.
The election results were contested by the Republican nominee, Russ Aiken.
After the midterm election in November, Bonds took the most votes; however, the case is pending in court and has no clear winner for sheriff.
“With it tied up in court, [Bonds] has been campaigning for 10 months,” Hudspeth said. “I’m glad I’m not in the position Lance Bonds is in. With a small sheriff’s department like this, [campaigning] takes too much time away from what I need to do as sheriff.”
When Hudspeth walks out of the office of Stone County sheriff, he plans to spend time with his three children and on his cattle farm.
“I’m just an ol’ country boy; I love anything outside,” he said. “I’m a huge Razorback fan, and I love hunting and spend most of my evenings and weekends working on my farm.”
Proud of his accomplishments in law enforcement, Hudspeth said he will miss it, but he will also welcome the free time.
“I’m going to walk out of here with my head held high,” he said. “I made each decision the way I felt it needed to be done at the time. I feel good, and I am leaving the office in a lot better place than I found it.”