The chief of the Hot Springs Police Department said late Tuesday that authorities are continuing to investigate the death of an 18-month-old child who was left in a vehicle on a hot day last week.
The police department previously said a preliminary investigation showed toddler Thomas Naramore, the son of Garland County Circuit Judge Wade Naramore, died Friday from excessive heat, the Hot Springs Sentinel Record reported. The high temperature that day in the city was 101.
Scott Ellington, prosecuting attorney for the 2nd Judicial District in Jonesboro, was appointed as a special prosecutor to investigate the case. Hot Springs Police Chief David Flory in a statement late Tuesday night urged patience while investigators look into what he called a "tragic death."
"[Police] personnel are completing necessary interviews of witnesses, reviewing documents, police dash-camera audio and video, and performing a variety of other investigative functions," he wrote. "Despite questions and criticism by members of the press, bloggers and the general public, the police department intends at this time to continue withholding investigative material such as 911 tapes, reports and related documents that are considered crucial to this investigation."
Flory noted that police will not be able to meet with Ellington until next week, which led to "the decision to withhold this information and to postpone any possible arrest in this matter."
Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission Executive Director David Sachar, meanwhile, said in a statement that the group will wait for police to "provide more facts" before it considers judicial discipline.
Commission officials say they can't comment whether they've received complaints regarding the incident.
Sachar also offered the commission's condolences to the Naramore family.
Flory in the statement called the case "unusual and involving a high-profile member of the community," but said it was being treated like any other investigation.
"It is being examined according to investigative protocol," he said. "All members of the Hot Springs Police Department remain committed to the promise of ethical behavior, integrity, professionalism and the unbiased treatment of those with whom they come in contact. The HSPD is anxious to see this case reach its investigative conclusion, whereupon it will turn all evidence and information over to the office of the special prosecutor for his ruling and any subsequent action."
The Associated Press contributed to this story.