In his weekly message to the community, Dallas County Sheriff Mike Knoedl addressed recent events impacting local residents, recognized the hard work of detention staff, and provided the latest installment of “Felony Friday.”
Sheriff Knoedl opened his message with concern for the current weather conditions, noting the ongoing heat and the risk associated with outdoor burning.
“Although no burn bans have been issued, please be mindful of burning anything at this time,” he wrote, expressing hope for rain and cooler temperatures soon.
The sheriff also reflected on what he described as “an emotional week” for the community, following the recent plea agreement accepted by a shooting suspect. The agreement, reached earlier in the week, resulted in a sentence of life in prison.
“There were numerous meetings held with the victim’s family members leading up to the plea agreement. I attended several of these meetings,” he shared. “The consensus was to accept the plea.”
Sheriff Knoedl acknowledged that some members of the public have questioned why the death penalty was not pursued, but explained that logistical and legal challenges made it an unlikely outcome.
“The last execution in Arkansas was in 2017, and there are currently no drugs available to carry out an execution. It may take over 30 years of appeals before it ever takes place,” he noted. “Each appeal requires the families to relive the incident each time.”
He asked the public to respect the wishes of the victims’ families and to continue praying for all those affected.
In a positive development, Sheriff Knoedl highlighted progress at the county jail. This week, detention officers completed Taser training as part of a 52-hour certification program. He offered special praise for the team, saying, “They work extremely hard in a demanding environment each day to keep all inmates safe and secure. I am very proud of them and our jail administrator, Kathryn Shuler.”
Felony Friday Arrest Report:
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Ernest Williams (Camden) – Failure to Appear (Misdemeanor – Fordyce PD)
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Omaria Harris (Pine Bluff) – Possession of Schedule I or II, Controlled Substances (x2), Drug Paraphernalia, Criminal Impersonation, Obstructing Governmental Operations, Resisting Arrest
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Laquincy Shelton (El Dorado) – Contempt (Failure to Pay)
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Ashley Goodner (Hampton) – Obstructing Governmental Operations, Fleeing, Battery 2nd Degree (Injury to Officer x2), Driving on Suspended License, Resisting Arrest
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Deandre Massey (Fordyce) – Failure to Appear (Felony)
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Stacy Bonini (Camden) – Failure to Appear (Felony), No Driver’s License, Speeding
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Javaris Turner (Fordyce) – Parole Violation
