Monticello Live

Chief of Police Eddy Deaton addressed the City Council Thursday evening on warrant issues the department is having due to mix-ups in District Court. He told the Council that over the past few years people were being arrested on warrants for fines that they had already paid.

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Eddy Deaton has a new title at the Monticello Police Department as of January 2012… Chief Deaton. He takes his future goals for the department very seriously.

 “I want to make the Monticello Police Department one of the best departments in the state. I want the officers to have the most updated training and equipment out there. I want to see all law enforcement agencies working together to accomplish a common goal of professional enforcement of the law, and community involvement, to aid in preventing and stopping crime.”

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arrests confirmed by Sheriff Mark Gober

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According to MPD Chief Eddy Deaton, a woman taking a walk was mauled by a Rottweiler, Friday morning. (more…)

At least a dozen law enforcement officers were on patrol on New Year’s Eve, representing MPD, DCSO, and State Troopers, which may have been enough to convince some “celebrators” to “let somebody else drive.”

But that wasn’t the case for everyone, with 5 Drew County arrests being made on potential DWI charges, after the festivities ended well after midnight.

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A 25 year old Lincoln County woman  was arrested earlier this month by the Arkansas State Police.

She was charged with Driving While Intoxicated, Careless Driving, Improper Lane Change, No Seat Belt, Furnishing Prohibited Articles in a Jail, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Carrying a Weapon.

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Drew Central High School Principal Steve Noble was arrested at his home on December 8, 2011. Charges were filed after detectives from Phoenix, Arizona Police Department posed as a 14 year old girl in a chat room and Noble allegedly asked the “girl” if she wanted to “watch him.” The same chat room had led the detectives to identify other sexual predators previously.

Search warrants of Noble’s home and office were executed where items listed to cease were computers, hard drives, jump drives, digital cameras, camcorders, cds and dvds. A warrant also allowed his iPhone to be taken and searched.

Noble is currently out on bond and faces possible extradition to Phoenix.

This was the 2nd leading pageview story in 2011.

Though the tragic case against Michael Binns came to light in November of 2010, it is a story that shook nearly all of 2011 for Monticello.

Binns was arrested and charged on 2 counts of rape, the victims being 16 and 18 year old males and later charges also included two counts of introducing a controlled substance, without the knowledge of the victim, for the purpose of engaging in an unlawful sexual act.

After a two-day jury trial, Michael Binns, Sr., former MHS and MJHS choir director, was found guilty of two counts of 2nd degree sexual assault and one count of introduction of a controlled substance. He was sentenced to twenty years each on the second degree assault convictions and five years for the introduction of a controlled substance, for a total of 45 years.

After his conviction on July 14, 2011 Binns went to the Drew County Detention Facility until July 20, when he was then transported to Baptist Hospital in Little Rock. He returned to the CDF on the 21st and was sent to the Arkansas Department of Corrections on July 22nd. He then passed away on July 31, after being treated at JRMC in Pine Bluff for seizures.

A spokesperson for he department of correction confirmed in late December that Binns” cause of death has been determined by the State Crime Lab to be a “pulmonary embolism, complicated by a seizure disorder.”  They were unable to determine the cause of the embolism. 

Binns’ arrest in November, 2011 was that year’s leading pageviews story.  The updated coverage of his July trial day, was the leading pageview day for 2012.  This shows the impact that this case had on the community.

From December of 2010 until January of 2011, local churches were suffering from unknown suspects breaking in and stealing from them. The count reached seven churches before the 20 year old suspect was apprehended.

Freddie Campbell, Jr. of Monticello plead guilty to six counts of commercial burglary and three counts of theft of property. He was sentenced to 24 months in Delta Regional Punishment Facility, with 96 months suspended, and ordered to pay over $6,000 in restitution.

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Katlin Lidge, 25 years old, of Monticello, was shot and killed at a local apartment complex in Monticello in March of 2011. The prime suspect, Nicholas Nix, fled to Salt Lake City, Utah after the incident, and turned himself in a few days later. Arkansas State Police and Monticello Police Department drove to Utah and brought him back to face charges.

Nix has since been tried twice, both trials resulted in hung juries. He is scheduled to be retried for the third time in March of 2012.

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One September Sunday morning around 12:30, a call came into MPD, reporting a stabbing on Davis Street.

Michael Ray Danzy, age 42 of Monticello, reportedly a family member of victim, was arrested by police, shortly after the crime.

The victim, Tony McCarney, age 48, of Pine Bluff, was transported to Drew Memorial by personal vehicle, and died in the emergency room, of laceration to the neck.

Danzy was charged with first degree murder. during his bond hearing in front of Circuit Judge Kenny Johnson.  Danzy also faced on a probation revocation hearing filed in Chicot County.

A state police special agent told the court that Danzy said McCarney hit him, before he used the knife.: but continued of the 3 witnesses who saw altercation, “No one saw Mr. McCarney strike Mr. Danzy.”

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Numerous break-ins and armed robberies of Monticello businesses occurred over the past 12 months.

Western Sizzlin was broken into twice in one week. Other businesses hit included Pizza Hut, Sonic, EZ Mart (numerous times), Piggly Wiggly, Topps Pizza, Crackerbox North, and the Tobacco Superstore.

Far too many sex crimes made the headlines in 2011.

Those allegedly charged and/or convicted included (in no specific order):
James Dotson, Jeremy Hill, Arthur Lee Newton, Ronald Magness, Billy Ray Austin, James Green, and Alex Rayford

Eddy Deaton, a 22 year veteran of law enforcement, with 19 years experience with the Monticello Police Dept. will become the new MPD chief on January 6.

A Warren police officer was arrested earlier this week, and charged with abuse of the public trust for accepting bribes.

Here’s the story from SalineRiverChronicle.com.

A 26 year old Dumas man, likely to be charged with Capital Murder and Felon in Possession of  a Firearm, appeared before Circuit Judge Bynum Gibson for a First Appearance Hearing, Monday afternoon, at the Drew County Courthouse.

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A Monticello man, arrested for stealing multiple items from his employer, was released on a $20,000 bond in February.

He allegedly fled to Los Angeles, CA, and was recently arrested there by U.S. Marshals.

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Fredrick “Alex” Rayford was arrested Sunday, and charged with the rape of a juvenile victim in Drew County, earlier that day.

Rayford is a registered sex offender and was on probation at the time of the alleged event.

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On Monday, James Edward Green, Jr., was convicted of Failure to Register as a Sexual Offender, and Registered Sex Offender Living Near a School or Daycare, by a jury in the Drew County Circuit Court.

Green still faces drug charges from an arrest last week, while he was out on bond, for this trial.

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Monticello District Judge Ken Harper reportedly agreed to accept letters of reprimand and censure by the Arkansas Judicial Discipline and Disability Commission, last week.

By reaching an agreement with the JDDC, Harper will remain in the position of District Judge, with no other disciplinary action being taken against him. if he follows the guidelines outlined in the agreement.

Below are the context of those 2 letters.

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According to Lt. Jason Akers of the Tenth Drug Task Force, a multi-county investigation by the Task Force has resulted in the arrest of three suspects the Task Force believes were involved in the illegal distribution of prescription narcotics.

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According to Drew County Sheriff Mark Gober, DCSO arrested a 26 year old man, formerly of Monticello, for failure to register/failure to comply with reporting requirements as a convicted sex offender after receiving information that the residence in which he had last reported to be residing in had been vacant for the past month.

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A Monticello woman was very busy, Saturday, October 8, being arrested 3 times, on a wide variety of charges by the Arkansas State Police and the Monticello Police Dept.

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A Dermott man was arrested by the Monticello Police Dept., Tuesday, and charged with voyeurism for his actions outside of a Monticello home.

James E. Dotson, Jr.’s bond was set at $15,000 by District Judge Ken Harper.

Dotson has since bonded out of jail.

A Monticello woman was arrested Friday, around noon, after MPD responded to a call reporting that she had attacked a local beautician.  The woman was charged with battery, and bonded out of jail, upon being taken to the County Detention Facility.

But that wasn’t the only time she was arrested, that day.

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A call of “shots fired” came through the Monticello Police Department’s dispatch at approximately 1:00am on Monday.

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MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

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Around 5:20, Monday morning, this alligator, estimated to be approximately 6 ft. long, was found crossing HWY 277, near Tillar.

The gator’s presence prompted a phone call to the Monticello Police Dispatch, who sent a Drew County Sheriff’s deputy to the scene.

The gator was safely  taken into custody by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

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 MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Another alligator, estimated to be 9 feet in length,  was captured by AG&F officers in May, while trying to cross HWY 165, south of Dermott, in the Lake Wallace area of Drew County.  Drew County Sheriff’s deputies were also present.

The video of the May alligator capture has been viewed over 2,000 times on MLive.

Captured alligators are generally re-located to an appropriate habitat, where they will not be around people.

The Sheriff’s Office is notifying the public that Terry Otter, a level 4 Registered Sex Offender (Sexually voilent preditor) has moved to 3062 Hwy 425 North. The offender was previously incarcerated.

Name: Terry Otter
Date of Birth: 05/23/1962
Address: 3062 Hwy 425 North

Charges: 2cts of Rape
Victim age: 17 and 21 (more…)

The Sheriff’s Office is notifying the public that Roy Densmore, a level 3 Registered Sex Offender (High Risk to re-offend) has moved to 128 Tara Grove. The offender was previously incarcerated.

Name: Roy Densmore
Date of Birth: 03/07/1952
Physical Address: 128 Tara Grove

The offender was convicted of Possession of Child Pornography in 2005.

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In the category of “not your everyday activity”, around 12 noon, an 18-wheeler dump truck, hauling “used chicken litter” caught fire as it was driving south on HWY 425 North.  The driver turned on HWY 278 East, unaware of the blaze that he was hauling.   The truck was pulled over by Monticello Police Officers, near Jordan Park.

Monticello Fire Dept. members quiclky arrived to extinguish the fire, which seemed to be contained to the cargo area of the big-rig.

Reports did not indicate if the cargo was damaged.

Photo and original info submitted  by a MLive reader.

Former Monticello Schools choir director, Michael Binns. Sr, passed away Sunday, at 4:38 pm.

Binns was convicted  by a Drew County Circuit Court jury on July 14 on 2 counts of 2nd degree sexual assault,  Binns was hospitalized at Baptist Health Center in Little Rock on Wednesday, July 20, before returning to the Drew County Detention Facility on Thursday, July 21, and being transferred to the Arkansas Dept. of Corrections on Friday, July 22.

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According to the Monticello Police Dept., an investigation is underway in the case of  the armed robbery of Monticello Western Sizzlin’, Friday night, around 10 pm.

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