Fort Smith police say a retired Sebastian County official has died.
Authorities say an officer responding to a call about 11:50 a.m. Wednesday found 81-year-old ex-County Judge William Raymond Harper had died of apparent natural causes. County judges are the top county officials in Arkansas.
Police say Harper was mowing his yard when he collapsed. His wife found him and called for an ambulance, but paramedics were unsuccessful in resuscitating him.
Officials say Harper had been experiencing minor health complications, and investigators suspect he died of a heart attack.