Arkansas fire chief cleared in sexual assault inquiry resigns

Mayflower Fire Chief Carl Rossini
Mayflower Fire Chief Carl Rossini

Mayflower Fire Chief Carl Rossini will not return to his previous post, despite being cleared earlier this week in a sexual assault investigation, the city’s mayor said Wednesday.

Rossini, who also served as code enforcement officer, resigned Monday and has chosen to move closer to family in Lake Village, said Mayflower Mayor Randy Holland.

He was named fire chief in 2006 by Holland.

David Batt will serve as interim chief during a hiring process to name the next leader of the volunteer fire department, which has 15 firefighters on staff, according to a city official.

Details were scant regarding the sexual assault accusation, and Mayflower police said it turned over the investigation to the Faulkner County sheriff’s office to avoid a conflict of interest.

On Monday, Prosecuting Attorney Cody Hiland said in a statement that “there simply wasn’t sufficient evidence to warrant the filing of criminal charges.”

The Arkansas State Police Crimes Against Children Division assisted in the investigation.

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