By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
A Forrest City Police Officer resigned after his arrest Wednesday for forgery in a case that reportedly spans several states and involves hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Lucius A. Carroll, 26, of Cotton Plant, an officer with the Forrest City Police Department, turned himself in on Tuesday on a warrant issued by Arkansas State Police. He is charged with first-degree forgery and is free on a $30,000 bond, according to a report at the Forrest City Police Department.
FCPD Chief Clarence McNeary said he was prepared to dismiss Carroll, but the officer submitted his letter of resignation immediately following his arrest. Carroll is a certified police officer, and began working with the police department about a year and a half ago, according to McNeary.
Five other suspects have also been arrested in the investigation involving computer-generated counterfeit State Farm checks. Also arrested and charged with first-degree forgery are five Forrest City residents. They include: Irene Gillespie, 47, 946 Robinson St.; Rosa Lyn Taylor, 21, 2008 Walnut Dr.; Floyd Anderson, 43, 902 Wilson St.; Leonard D. Howell, 27, 130 Cardinal Dr.; and Meleshia Gail Lewis, 29, 160 Turner Circle, Apt. 83.
The Times-Herald reported last week that several State Farm checks, valued at over $28,000, had been cashed or deposited at local banks. The amounts of each check varied from upwards of $7,000 to less than $5,000.
Arkansas State Police are investigating the case since it involves a local police officer. McNeary said his department was investigating it until they uncovered evidence regarding a police officer's possible involvement. He said at that point they "turned it over to the State Police because we felt it was best that an outside agency investigate this once we gathered information that a FCPD officer may have been involved. At that point, we looked to an outside agency to investigate it more thoroughly."
More arrests are expected in the case, according to law enforcement officials.
As for the possibility that other police officers may have been involved, McNeary said, "No other police officers are involved at this point that I'm aware of. He's (ASP Investigator Dale Arnold) looking for other types of leads, and I'm sure there will be more arrests forthcoming.
"If there are any other police officers involved, I hope they'll get arrested too," McNeary said. "We don't need them."
The police chief also expressed his disapproval of Carroll's actions. "I'm always surprised when a police officers goes and fouls up the law. I'm not only surprised, I'm shocked and dismayed. Anytime anyone puts on a badge and takes an oath and then tarnishes that badge, it reflects on the entire law enforcement community, not just the FCPD."
As for the details surrounding the case, McNeary referred those questions to Arnold who was not available for comment this morning.
The Forrest City School District has been chosen to receive a $20,000 grant to implement character-centered teaching in all five elementary schools during he upcoming school year.
The district was one of 30 districts awarded grants by the state Department of Education.
According to grant writer Joye Hughes, the program's objective is to develop positive character traits as part of the instruction program.
"Emphasis is placed on personal responsibility and respect in human relationships," Hughes said. "I am sure most people would agree that this is needed in our total society. Additionally, students will benefit academically because the program promotes high academic standards, peaceful school environments and positive personal relationships."
Hughes explained that there are a set of "Guiding Principles," developed by Dr. Martin Marrazo and Dr. Bill Daggett at the International Center for Leadership in Education.
"The principles include concepts such as honesty, respect, perseverance, courage, patriotism, etc. which are integrated into instruction and other school day activities."
Superintendent Lee Vent complimented Hughes' work in getting the grant and said the program was needed.
"Increasingly, the schools are put in the position of needing to do more than just teach the 'three R's. At both the national and community level we see serious problems of violence, crime and societal fragmentation," Vent said. "Children need more and more positive character building influences to counter the negative stimuli in modern daily living. Implementing this grant that Ms. Hughes has developed will be a real plus for our elementary program."
Vent said the district wants parents and the community to be partners with the schools in promoting positive character development. One example is in promotion of the "Word of the Month." He said businesses can participate by displaying the "Word of the Month (honesty, patriotism, etc.)" at their places of business.
A Wynne man was sentenced to 10 years in prison Wednesday for the rape of a young girl.
Keith Anthony Bryant, 38, was sentenced to time in the Arkansas Department of Corrections for the 1999 rape of a 12-year-old.
In other circuit court activity this week, Harold T. Carter, 38, received a five-year prison sentence on a drug charge.
The sentence will run concurrently with a Crittenden County sentence.
He was also given a five-year suspended sentence that will begin after his release from prison.
By DAVID NICHOL
T-H Staff Writer
A lawsuit is set to be heard beginning March 18 in U.S. District Court in Helena, concerning claims by a Forrest City man that he was fired from his job with the Forrest City Housing Authority for running for the Forrest City School Board against a white incumbent.
The suit, filed by Michael Gray, names as defendants the Arkansas Department of Housing Urban Development, the Housing Authority of the City of Forrest City, the Housing Authority Board, Janet Duncan, director of the FCHA and Wayne McNeary, assistant director of the FCHA.
In the lawsuit, Gray says he was hired in October of 1999 as a grant coordinator for the Housing Authority. In August of 2000, the suit says, he was placed on a 90-day disciplinary probation period, allegedly for failing to set up programs and resident initiatives, and was terminated on Dec. 1, 2000.
Gray, who is black, claims in the suit that his problems began after he filed for a position on the Forrest City School Board against a white man.
Gray further claims in the suit that he was harassed over his allowing a particular resident, a member of the Housing Authority's Advisory Board, into the FCHA community center.
Gray further states that he wrote a letter to the editor after the school board election, which he lost, in which he was critical of the school superintendent, the school board members and the athletic director of Forrest City Schools. He claims that after the letter was published, he was informed that his job was in jeopardy, and was later terminated. The suit also alleges that on one occasion, a racial slur was used against him.
Attorney Michael Dennis, representing the Housing Authority, was contacted earlier this week.
"The Housing Authority denies that it has discriminated against Mr. Gray in any way," Dennis said, adding that Gray was terminated because of job performance. As for the alleged racial slur, Dennis said that was "absolutely denied."
The suit asks, among other things, that Gray be returned to the position he held with the FCHA, along with the pay he would have received had he not been terminated. The suit further asks for damages due to alleged racially motivated treatment, and attorney fees.