BULL SHOALS — The mayor of Bull Shoals said the town's police chief has now been placed on administrative leave.
Chief Dan Sutterfield was arrested earlier this month on federal charges of using excessive force and falsifying a report in a July 2013 arrest. He had remained working in a limited capacity, but Mayor Bruce Powell said Wednesday that the chief is now on leave.
The Baxter Bulletin reported that Powell notified council members in a letter this week and also said Officer Michael Tovar would serve as acting chief. The letter did not elaborate on why Sutterfield was placed on leave.
Last week, a federal magistrate ruled that Sutterfield could be freed from jail as long as he lived with the mayor.
Sutterfield is next due in court May 6.