HOWARD COUNTY, ARKANSAS — As of the 2010 census, Dierks, Arkansas boasted a population of 1,133 people, down from 1,230 ten years prior. The small municipality had an equally cozy police force, consisting of three full time and two part-time officers.
In early-June 2018, the entire Dierks Police Department was temporarily suspended after the Arkansas Commission on Law Enforcement Standards notified the city that their law enforcement agency of five had not met required range standards, nor completed a required racial profiling class. At the time, Chief James Brian White — who goes by his middle name — stated “We took a couple of days to do some in house training that we let ourselves get behind on, but it’s been taken care of.”
Less than two years later, Dierks Chief of Police Brian White resigned from his position after the Arkansas State Police arrested him in his own backyard.
On April 4, 2021 at 10:02 a.m., Arkansas State Police Trooper Darren Henley was requested by Howard County Sheriff’s Department to respond to a single vehicle collision at the
intersection of Green Plains Road and US-278. Henley was told
that the driver of the accident vehicle was the Chief of the Dierks Police Department, James White. While en route, Henley received an update: White had left the scene, driving the vehicle that was previously involved in the collision. Also known as his patrol vehicle.
Multiple police units followed White back to his house, where White drove behind his house and into the woods. Shortly thereafter, dispatch advised Trooper Henley that a “Deputy Quick” had the chief of police detained.
White’s preliminary breath test sample returned a healthy .24% BAC, otherwise known as three times the per se limit. And Dierks Chief of Police James White was arrested for driving while intoxicated. At the Howard County Detention Facility, White
submitted to additional requested testing. His final BAC result was .21%. Earlier today we called the Howard County Sheriff’s Office seeking additional information and White’s booking photo. If you are reading this, we are waiting for a return call. (Notably, White’s booking photo is a public record, and our Arkansas business license provides us with a right to access it. Still waiting.)
While we are on the subject of DUI arrests, let’s circle back to Keith Ingersoll, of “Drunk Driving the Rolls Royce” fame. When we left off, the question we posed was how a politically-connected multimillionaire was accepted into a diversion program that he was likely ineligible for.
First, some background: it may come as a surprise to learn that government agencies are generally not required to answer questions or produce information. The only thing agencies have to produce is nonexempt public records, in response to a request and the payment of any fees due.
And on the records front, it’s unfortunately still early. Pretrial diversion put Ingersoll’s prosecution on pause, which means that his 2020 DUI case is still open. Consequently, records that could explain Ingersoll’s acceptance into diversion remain exempt.
But I did manage to confirm my suspicion. There is no way that he was eligible.
“In order to be eligible for either tier the defendant must meet the following general criteria: * * * #4. The defendant must not have been involved in a crash in the instant case.”
If you are thinking “Maybe the State Attorney’s Office defines “crash” in a weird way,” you nailed it. They interpret the term more expansively than usual. They have also defined the term in relation to diversion eligibility.
Verbatim: A “crash” certainly includes… (c). Hitting someone else’s vehicle.
I have a copy of the crash report associated with Ingersoll’s arrest. Ingersoll was charged with one count DUI With Property Damage. There was definitely a crash.
It took some nagging, but SAO spokesperson Keisha Mulfort eventually told me that she would “reach out to the assigned ASA” and get back to me.
That was five weeks ago. Their silence is loud.
State Attorney Worrell:
Keith Ingersoll is a politically-connected multimillionaire who spent much of his DUI arrest informing officers that they were going to regret arresting him. The crash report associated with Ingersoll’s arrest reflects thousands of dollars in property damage. Why was Keith Ingersoll accepted into a diversion program that he is ineligible for?
Not holding my breath.
But once the records are no longer exempt, they’re mine. And they’re yours.
~~~
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~~~
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** (Disclaimer: This video content is intended for educational and informational purposes only) **
While we are on the subject of DUI arrests, let's circle back to Keith Ingersoll, of "Drunk Driving the Rolls Royce" fame.(1) When we left off, the question we posed was how a politically-connected multimillionaire was accepted into a pretrial diversion program that he was probably ineligible for.
First, some background: it may come as a surprise to learn that government agencies are generally not required to answer questions or produce information.(2) The only thing agencies have to produce is nonexempt public records, in response to a request and the payment of any fees due.
And on the records front, it's unfortunately still early. Pretrial diversion paused Ingersoll's prosecution, which means that his 2020 case is still open, and records that could explain his acceptance into diversion remain exempt from disclosure.
But I did manage to confirm my suspicion: there is no way that he was eligible.
"In order to be eligible for either tier the defendant must meet the following general criteria: . . . #4. The defendant must not have been involved in a crash in the instant case."
If you are thinking "Maybe the State Attorney's Office defines "crash" in a weird way," you nailed it. They interpret the term more expansively than usual. They have also defined the term in relation to diversion eligibility.
Verbatim: A "crash" certainly includes… (c). Hitting someone else's vehicle.
I have a copy of the crash report associated with Ingersoll's arrest, and Ingersoll was charged with one count DUI With Property Damage. There was definitely a crash.
It took a bunch of nagging, but SAO spokesperson Keisha Mulfort eventually told me that she would "reach out to the assigned ASA" and get back to me.
Five weeks ago. Their silence is loud.
State Attorney Worrell:
Keith Ingersoll is a politically-connected multimillionaire who spent much of his DUI arrest informing officers that they were going to regret arresting him. The crash report associated with Ingersoll's arrest reflects thousands of dollars in property damage. He was hardly able to keep himself upright during SFSTs. Why was Keith Ingersoll accepted into a diversion program that he was not eligible for?
Not holding my breath, but once the case notes are no longer exempt, they're mine.
~~~
(1) If you missed either of those videos, they are worth your time. Find them at rwp.yt/rr1 and rwp.yt/rr2.
(2) If that wasn't news to you, it may come as a surprise to learn that there are municipalities where government agencies are required to respond to requests for information. San Francisco is one of them. (See San Francisco Administrative Code, Chapter 67, Article III, Sec. 67.22)
Go here to watch Full HD video â¤ï¸
I fell out when he said "That's messed up." LOL sad in my state though. Love Arkansas.
The only one that screwed this up is himself. I'll bet hes arrested many for less. Thank you to the trooper that did the right thing. Much respect sir.
Heard how they speak in idiocracy 🤔🤣🤦â€â™‚ï¸ðŸ¤¦â€â™‚ï¸
He needs to go back 34yrs, and apologize to everyone he given a DUI.
Easter Sunday 10am…
You are a hero.
This means no corruption in Arkansas state police
He has cute dogs.
The dog is just there for the drama
Go here to watch Full HD video ✈ï¸
KNOWING he is fixing to severely tarnish 34 years on the job, I think major props should be given to the trooper 👮 simply for staying professional and doing his job. Clearly this isn't his 🖠first time ever doing this…..it's just his first time ever getting caught 🚓 💯
Whatever happened to the good old days when cops had each others backs? If it wasn't for those darn body and dash mounted cameras forcing them to be accountable they could just give the drunk cop a lift home like they used too.
Go here to watch Full HD video ✨
1:03:50 eeewwww
This means no corruption in Arkansas state police
I want to party with this dude
.24 idiot was drunk as hell. Definitely a career drunk. Glad his career is over and they should keep his pension.
How many dwi drivers did he arrest while he was drinking and driving and saw himself as superior to those drunks
The cops are all chunky! They waddle in unison on that grass road! They need a dietitian on staff !
Where’s the drug deal gone wrong vid I’ve been waiting
"were gonna get thru this as quick as we can" – the Ol thin blue line at its best with no handcuffs. Im surprised one of those deputies didnt ride in the back with him and hold his hand
I love and support our police…..but damn….There has to be some fitness standards put in place..
Yo Arkansas, you okay?
The good auld day's are gone when the police mates would just take them home thank god for camera and the officer that was doing his job the way they should
UHHHH HUH
I am going to show you respect and not cough is not cuff you who is this state troop who is this state trooper to make a policy on the fly
So his Gastric Sleeve surgery caused his alcoholism. Ok. 😉
It’s the worst day of your life you’re gonna lose your job and possibly everything ……sir I’m sure you’re mentally strong can you please keep your hands in your pocket the whole time thank you I’m not a cop and even I see that as bad police
I am honestly curious why dont officers just do a breath text first ? Is it a more evidence thing or something?
I guess retirement came early this year.
How awkward is that!! This is like your father arresting your brother for dwi
The chief needs to be fired with no pay
Dude must be at a low point in his life being that drunk at 10 am
That's got to be embarrassing to get hauled in after 30 plus years of service.
We are all human. No one is greater or above another. We make mistakes n poor judgements. Instead of seeing people as role models or heros….we must really wonder what it's like to walk in their shoes. NO ONE should be prosecuted any different.
Another drunk driving officer. You don’t say.
I got a dui some years back ended up blowing a .09 the assholes didn’t even do roadside sobriety loaded me in the car and swiftly took me to the jail no accident no victim and it didn’t bother them one bit. Had I known then what I know now I would’ve never received that charge
Damn hypocritical sovereign citizens everywhere you look it seems and then blue lines everywhere