Dierks Police Chief arrested for DWI…Updated
Dierks officials say Police Chief Brian White has resigned his position, effective immediately. In a written statement released Monday, Dierks Mayor Ronnie Cogburn said he and council members became aware of an incident Sunday involving Chief White. Police reports said White was involved in a single vehicle accident, while driving a Dierks police patrol vehicle. White was booked into the Howard County Jail at 12:35 Sunday afternoon on suspicion of Driving While Intoxicated. Jail records indicate he was released about an hour later. After learning of the arrest, Mayor Cogburn suspended White with pay, pending further investigation. Subsequently, Chief White tendered his resignation to the mayor and council. Mayor Cogburn said Dierks officer John McKee has been appointed as Interim Police Chief. The mayor’s statement also said neither he, nor the city of Dierks, will have any further comment on the matter, pending a full investigation by the Arkansas State Police.
The Dierks City Council has called a special meeting for this evening at 7 o’clock to discuss personnel.
The Dierks Police Chief has been charged with D.W.I. following his arrest yesterday. Records indicate 57 year James Brian White was booked into the Howard County Jail Sunday afternoon around 12:30, and was released about an hour later. Howard County Sheriff Bryan McJunkins said authorities initially received a call reporting an accident just outside of Dierks around 10 o’clock Sunday morning. Sheriff McJunkins said by the time officers arrived, they learned the vehicle had been pulled out of the ditch and someone had driven Chief White and his city of Dierks patrol unit to near the chief’s residence. The sheriff said state troopers located White there, and took him into custody.
Radio stations KMTB and KNAS submitted a request Sunday under the Freedom of Information Act, and learned Dierks Mayor Ronnie Cogburn has suspended Chief White, with pay, from his duties, pending the outcome of an investigation into Sunday’s incident.
