Arkansas fire chief cleared in sexual-assault investigation, but quits position

Mayflower Fire Chief Carl Rossini will not return to his post after being cleared in a sexual-assault investigation, the city's mayor said Wednesday.

Rossini, who also was a code-enforcement officer, resigned Monday and has chosen to move closer to family members in Lake Village, Mayflower Mayor Randy Holland said. 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, according to a city official.

Mayflower police initiated an investigation in March into a sexual-assault accusation made against Rossini, but the department turned over its investigation to the Faulkner County sheriff's office to avoid a conflict of interest.

Prosecuting Attorney Cody Hiland declined to charge Rossini, saying in a statement Monday that "there simply wasn't sufficient evidence to warrant the filing of criminal charges."

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

State Desk on 05/05/2016

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