Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Former Marshal Candidate Arrested

A former candidate for City Marshal has been arrested and charged with domestic child abuse.

According to records from the Gurdon Police Department, Tommy Potter got involved in an altercation with a 15-year-old stepson on Jan. 6.

According to reports, the youth called Potter at his business asking if he could go to a friend's house. Potter allegedly left his business to go home and confront the boy.

The report states Potter and the boy got into an argument which resulted in Potter grabbing the boy and twisting his arm. The youth allegedly broke free, only to be struck in the face by Potter.

The youth then reportedly ran to a neighbor's house, where he was convinced to go to Mercy Medical Clinic to be checked.

When he arrived at the clinic, the Gurdon Police Department was called, as required by law in such cases. City Marshal David Childres was informed a youth was at the clinic who had apparently been beaten up by his stepfather.

The boy had a bruise on his right cheek, some bleeding and a lot of swelling, according to the report.

Childres carried the youth to Baptist Medical Hospital in Arkadelphia for X-rays and turned the boy over to a Department of Human Service officer and the Clark County Sheriff's Office.

Potter was arrested and charged with domestic child abuse.