Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Letter Details Reasons For Stovall's Firing

Arkansas State Police Capt. A.R. "Ron" Stovall was officially terminated as troop commander of Hope's troop G Thursday, March 11.

The termination came as the result of an investigation concerning Stovall's actions involving a suspect in a multi-agency drug case.

Stovall was given a letter from Mars detailing why he had been fired, and was notified he had 10 days from March 11, to appeal the decision.

The appeal was made, and a hearing is pending.

According to the letter, the internal probe began Tuesday, March 9, after the ASP was given information from Nevada County Sheriff Steve Otwell, who did not register a formal complaint.

The information, though, warranted further investigation, Mars wrote.

The information provided by Otwell, the letter stated, indicated Stovall had contacted a suspected drug dealer who was a specific, identified target of a multi-agency narcotics investigation and intentionally communicated to the suspect law enforcement officials were aware of his illegal activities and he should discontinue them to avoid being arrested, prosecuted and sent to jail for the felony offenses.

According to the letter, the information provided by Otwell indicated the suspect followed Stovall's advice as the evidence was destroyed resulting in the delay of the investigation against him.

Stovall, the letter states, suggested Otwell's motives in the matter are relevant to the probe, but Mars thought otherwise.

He wrote, "I have not considered his motives in reaching a decision. Quite frankly, I do not think Sheriff Otwell's motives have any bearing whatsoever on the resolution of this matter."

Mars went on to write though Otwell's initial report triggered the investigation into Stovall's actions, the relevant facts were established through other witnesses, including members of the ASP who had no motive to discredit Stovall. "Indeed," Mars wrote, "the most credible, relevant evidence in this investigation was provided (albeit reluctantly) by ASP Lt. Cleve Barfield, one of your closest friends."

The preponderance of the evidence substantiated almost all of the information Otwell had provided, he wrote, adding the misconduct by Stovall was a clear and blatant violation of department policy and seriously harmed the reputation of the ASP.

If the charges against Stovall are established beyond a reasonable doubt, it could constitute a class B felony under state law.

Stovall, 51, is a 26-year veteran with the ASP. His personnel file doesn't show any substantiated complaints of professional misconduct, and, until now, he has never been subjected to disciplinary proceedings by the department.

In fact, the file contains a number of letters of appreciation and commendation from his supervisors, public officials and private citizens.

The 17-page document, provided by ASP media relations, details conversations Stovall reportedly had with the suspect's mother, other members of the ASP CID in Hope and his own conversation with the suspect.

The suspect's mother reportedly went to Stovall in Feb. 1999, hoping to speak with him about her 38-year-old son, whom she believed was involved in illegal drug activity.

In the document, Stovall admits knowing it would be inappropriate for a troop commander to speak with a suspect, and he told the mother he would be unable to speak with her son because of it.

His account was the mother didn't go into specifics concerning her son's activities, while her account states she made it clear to Stovall her son was selling drugs.

During Stovall's questioning by the investigating team, he claims he told the mother he would try and find someone else to talk with her son.

According to the Mars letter, Stovall contacted criminal investigator Sgt. Tommy Pope, asking him to "frighten" the suspect into stopping his illegal drug activity.

Pope, the letter states, proceeded to carry out Stovall's request, but decided to talk to his immediate supervisor, Barfield, first.

When Pope told Barfield what Stovall asked, Barfield reportedly "snapped" upon hearing the suspect's name mentioned.

Barfield told Pope he had information the suspect was "selling a lot of dope in Prescott" and they were trying to get an informant to make a buy from him.

Barfield spoke to Stovall, the letter states, letting him know in no uncertain terms about the investigation into the suspect's activities, which included selling "crank."

Barfield made it clear he had talked with Otwell and the sheriff informed him the suspect was selling the drug. The two agreed to work together to make a case against the suspect.

Stovall, Mars wrote, admits at the end of the conversation with Barfield, he knew it was "not a good idea" for him or any other ASP official to approach the suspect.

Mars wrote, Stovall admitted calling the suspect's mother and telling her he wouldn't be able to send anyone to speak with her son. But, according to the letter, Stovall told the mother "the only thing I know to do is I can talk to him..." He gave the mother a few days to think it over.

According to Stovall's testimony, the mother called back a few days later asking if he would speak to her son. This, he admits to doing.

The letter states Stovall had the suspect come to his office at troop G headquarters in Hope, where they talked, with Stovall making it clear without using the words drugs or narcotics law enforcement officials were aware of his activities and if he didn't stop would be arrested and sent to jail.

According to the letter, during the week of March 1, 1999, a reliable informant told Otwell the suspect had told others involved in dealing drugs in the Prescott area an ASP captain had "tipped" him off to a pending drug bust.

Because of this evidence, Mars wrote, there was no alternative but to terminate Stovall's employment.