Bald Knob Police Chief Tim Sanford, who shot a stabbing suspect at a gas station in late March, was cleared of possible charges in the incident by a state prosecutor Tuesday.
Sanford shot Amy Collins, 34, of Cave City, on March 24 outside an Exxon station at 115 U.S. 167. Collins is accused of stabbing 44-year-old Michael Taylor inside the store beforehand. When Sanford arrived at the scene about 10 a.m., Collins purportedly approached him while holding a knife and was shot after ignoring Sanford’s orders to drop the weapon.
In his decision not to charge Sanford, prosecutor Chris Raff wrote that the police chief “was reasonable in his belief that such deadly force was necessary.”
Raff said that Collins, who was hospitalized with at least one gunshot wound, will be charged with first-degree battery and aggravated assault.
Sanford did not return a phone call seeking comment Wednesday.
Arkansas, Pages 8 on 04/03/2014