Two men accused of using Arkansas dive team equipment for personal business will not face charges, their attorney said Monday.
Rick Downum and Chris Perry, both former members of the Benton County dive team, were arrested in August after using the team’s pontoon boat and air bags to raise a sunken boat, according to a probable cause affidavit.
The two men were reportedly paid $2,500 for their work.
On Thursday, they agreed to hand the full amount over to the dive team, according to their attorney, Ben Catterlin. In exchange, he said, prosecutors will not file charges against them.
The Benton County dive team suspended operations after the August arrests, the Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette previously reported.
Sgt. Shannon Jenkins said the sheriff’s office plans to take over the dive team. Under the new policy, the unit will be required to report to the agency and follow its policies, Jenkins said.
She expects the decision to be finalized at the Benton County Quorum Court’s next meeting.