Ex-trooper wins GOP nod for Faulkner County sheriff

CONWAY -- Tim Ryals, a retired Arkansas State Police trooper, held on to a strong lead over Mayflower police officer Rocky Lawrence to clinch the Republican nomination for Faulkner County sheriff Tuesday.





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Ryals, 53, will face Democrat Wefus Tyus Jr., 48, in the November general election.

Complete but unofficial totals in the runoff primary:

Ryals 2,849

Lawrence 1,507

The sheriff serves a two-year term and makes $74,984 a year.

Ryals and Lawrence, 57, competed in the runoff after leading a third Republican candidate, retired Conway police officer Joe Taylor, 48, in the March 1 Republican primary. Tyus had no opposition.

In addition to his current job with the Mayflower Police Department, Lawrence formerly worked for the sheriff's office.

Last week, the secretary of state's office referred voter-intimidation complaints against Lawrence to the prosecutor's office in Conway for investigation.

Prosecuting Attorney Cody Hiland said Tuesday that he was recusing from that investigation since he had endorsed Ryals. Hiland said he would ask for a special prosecutor to be appointed.

Lawrence has called the complaints "bogus" and blamed Ryals' campaign.

Ryals and Lawrence agreed during the campaign that deputies should be provided body cameras as soon as possible.

The winner in November will succeed Matt Rice, who became sheriff in September after Andy Shock resigned from the job to take a position on the state Parole Board. Ryals has said that, if elected, he will name Rice to be his chief deputy, the position Rice held before becoming sheriff.

Neither Ryals nor Lawrence immediately returned phone messages seeking comment late Tuesday night.

State Desk on 03/23/2016

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