Rutledge Asks Court to Reconsider Competency Law Rulingfor Executions

Rutledge Asks Court to Reconsider Competency Law Rulingfor Executions

LITTLE ROCK – Arkansas’ attorney general is asking the state’s highest court to reconsider its decisions striking down a law that gave the state’s prison director authority to determine whether an inmate is mentally competent to be executed. Attorney General Leslie Rutledge on Monday petitioned for a rehearing and asked the state Supreme Court to vacate its rulings in favor of two death row inmates who were spared from execution last year. Justices earlier this month ruled that the competency law violated due process rights guaranteed in the Arkansas and U.S. Constitutions. Convicted murderers Bruce Ward and Jack Greene were granted stays last year so the court could hear their case. Rutledge on Monday argued that the competency law can be applied in a way that is constitutional.

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20-year-old Steals $6,500 In ‘Christmas Presents’ from Walmart

PARAGOULD – Police say a Paragould man walked into Walmart to pick up some Christmas presents. He walked out with a felony charge of theft. Investigators say Josiah Bailey. 20. went to the Walmart store Sunday, selected a backpack, and tore the tags off it. “Bailey then proceeded to walk through the store stuffing additional merchandise into the bag as well as concealing it on his person,” the probable cause affidavit stated. Store staff said they watched him collect the items, then exit the store without paying for any of the merchandise. According to court documents, he walked out with just under $6,500 worth of goods. During an interview with police, Bailey reportedly said he “stole the items for Christmas presents.” Bailey was charged with theft of property less than $25,000 but greater than $5,000. Bailey’s bond was set at $50,000. As a condition of his bond, the judge also ordered Bailey to stay out of any and all Walmart stores.

Crittenden County Man Arrested for Dumping Tires

TYRONZA – Law enforcement in Crittenden County arrested a man they say was caught illegally dumping nearly 100 tires into a ditch on Kingstore Road. 71-year-old Sammy Southerland was charged with the illegal dumping. “If it wouldn't have been for community involvement, we probably wouldn’t have been able to make the arrest,” said Rodney Davis, code enforcement officer. “We still would have to incur the cost of cleaning up the site.” Davis said it can cost as much as $10,000 to clean up the mess left behind by illegal dumping and it is a major problem in the county. This most recent incident marks the third illegal dumping within the past year on Kingstore Road. “You’re going to get caught eventually, you’re going to get away with it for so long and eventually you’re going to get caught,” Davis said.