An altercation in March between the former and current Little River County sheriffs has led to misdemeanor citations being filed against the former sheriff and his son, records show.
Former Little River County Sheriff Danny Russell, 59, was issued two criminal citations Tuesday on charges of interfering with a law enforcement officer and disorderly conduct, according to records.
Danny Russell’s son, Rusty Russell, 38, of Ashdown, also was cited on charges of interfering with a law enforcement officer and disorderly conduct. He was also charged with misdemeanor first-degree terroristic threatening.
Both have pleaded innocent and have a May 14 court date.
No bail was required on the misdemeanor charges, and the men were released.
The altercation between Danny Russell and Sheriff Gary Gregory on March 22 was reported after the sheriff’s office was asked to check on a Department of Human Services child-maltreatment agent at Rusty Russell’s home on County Road 43 South near Ashdown, according to the sheriff’s office report.
The agent was attempting to remove Rusty Russell’s children from his home because of concerns regarding drug use, according to the report.
Gregory is a candidate for re-election and is being challenged for the office by Danny Russell and Doyle Crouch in next month’s primary.
Independent candidate Bobby Walraven is seeking the office, as well.
Russell served as sheriff from 1997-2012, but opted not to seek re-election then.Gregory was elected as sheriff in 2012 and was sworn in January 2013.
Danny Russell said the allegations in the incident report were not true.
“It’s politically motivated. Why wait a month to actually charge someone and a month before the election and the court date is May 14, just six days before the election?” Danny Russell said.
Gregory said that issuing the citations took a month because of Arkansas State Police involvement and getting information to the prosecutor’s office.
Arkansas, Pages 10 on 04/19/2014