Featured image: A memorial in front of the Stone County Courthouse for fallen Stone County Sheriff’s Deputy Justin Smith.
Arkansas Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders has ordered flags to half-staff from Jan. 4 to Jan. 6 to mourn Stone County Deputy Sheriff Justin Smith.
Smith, a 14-year veteran in law enforcement, was fatally shot Tuesday afternoon as he was serving a misdemeanor terroristic threatening warrant at a home five miles north of Mountain View.
A large procession of law enforcement officers and first responders made a two-hour-plus journey from the State Crime Lab in Little Rock to Mountain View yesterday as they escorted the body of Stone County Sheriff’s Deputy Justin Smith back home.
Stone County Sheriff Brandon Long said Clinton Craig Hefton, 52, of Mountain View, is charged with capital murder in the killing of Deputy Smith. Hefton is being held without bond at the Cleburne County Detention Center. Hefton will have a court appearance on Jan. 18.
According to Arkansas State Police, early evidence indicated that Hefton allegedly resisted arrest and fired on Deputy Smith. Responding officers took Hefton into custody after a brief standoff.
On Wednesday, hundreds of community members lined Main Street as the procession passed the courthouse square.
At a press conference yesterday in Mountain View, Sheriff Long said Smith was a faithful servant to the public and “very passionate” about his job.
“Everybody at this agency is heartbroken to have suffered a tragedy such as this,” Long said. “Deputy Smith was a husband. He was a father. He was just like any of us.”
The sheriff said the Arkansas State Police-led investigation was still in its early stages, but that more information would be released.
“I don’t have a lot of facts or details regarding everything,” Long said. “I have a lot of questions myself. And I’m ready for them to conclude their investigation, that I hope will be done here in a couple of weeks.”
“This community…Stone County and Mountain View are heartbroken over this horrific incident.”
When a reporter asked Sheriff Long how he personally was making it through the situation, he said: “One day at a time. It’s not easy. This is a day no one ever wants to happen. A lot of prayer.”
Yesterday on X, the social media site formerly known as Twitter, the governor posted: “Our hearts are with his entire family, friends, and colleagues at the Stone County Sheriff’s Office. His passing will be mourned by all those who loved him.”
Service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 6, in the large auditorium at the Traditional Ozark Folk Center, 1032 Park Ave. in Mountain View. Burial will follow in Flatwoods Cemetery, 2709 E. Main St.
Deputy Justin Smith
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