Little Rock Police Officer Charged with Sexual Assault

Little Rock Police Officer Charged with Sexual Assault

LITTLE ROCK – A Little Rock officer faces a charge of third-degree sexual assault in a case that occurred last month.

An affidavit for a warrant of arrest against Officer Brandon Johnson was filed in district court on Thursday.

According to the affidavit, Johnson responded to 711 Thomas Street early in the morning on September 25 for a suspicious person.

When he arrived, several subjects told him there was a woman asleep in one of their trucks. The woman later told police she had been drinking and walked from her residence nearby to AFCO Steel to talk to the employees.

The woman claims Johnson told her he could take her to jail for public intoxication but instead offered to take her home.

On the way to her residence, the victim claims Johnson took her to a church parking lot at 3rd and Bender streets, removed her from the backseat of the patrol vehicle and asked her to perform oral sex on him, the affidavit states.

The victim told authorities she complied due to the officer's position of authority and because she did not want to go to jail.

At 4:10 a.m. the same day, Little Rock communications was called for a citizen's complaint where the woman detailed the alleged assault. She was transported to UAMS for a sexual assault exam.

Johnson responded to the 12th Street Station and was relieved of duty pending further

investigation.

According to the affidavit, DNA samples from the officer were found on the victim's shirt and pants and her DNA was found on his underwear.

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Supporters frustrated, concerned at slow rollout of Medical Marijuana program

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansans made their voices heard on Friday at a public hearing held by Arkansas Medical Marijuana Commission.

At the meeting, about two dozen people signed up to speak and were allotted three minutes each to express their concerns and frustrations.

Among those who spoke at the hearing were future medical marijuana patients, cultivation and dispensary applicants, as well as a few attorneys.

Many of the people who attended the meeting asked commissioners why the state’s medical marijuana program has taken this much time to launch nearly two years after Arkansans passed it.

Arkansas voters approved medical marijuana in 2016, but numerous delays have stalled the launch of the service to qualified recipients.

The commission will meet again Nov. 13.