LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders today joined Arkansas State Police in mourning the death of Little Rock Respiratory Therapist Jennifer Ann Morton, who was killed by illegal immigrant Maynor Yair Sorto-Herrera.
Herrera, a Honduras native, was driving drunk in the early morning of September 8th, when he drove his vehicle into Morton, a respiratory therapist in the Infant Toddler Unit at Arkansas Children’s Hospital. He has been charged with Negligent Homicide, Battery, DUI, Violation of the Concealed Weapons Act, Reckless Driving, Driving Without a License, Failure to Stop After Accident with Death, and other traffic violations.
Herrera is currently being held for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. He was previously deported from the United States in 2018.
“I am devastated for the loss of Respiratory Therapist Jennifer Ann Morton. Our state will feel the loss of this woman’s life and sends its prayers and sympathies to her entire family,” said Governor Sanders. “We will use every tool available to prosecute the illegal immigrant who caused this senseless death, but let’s be clear: he never should have been in this country to begin with. President Biden and Vice President Harris opened our borders wide. It’s time for the federal government to step up, close the border, and end the mayhem in our communities.”
“Our hearts are heavy for the Morton family as they are devastated by the loss of Jennifer, who devoted her life to compassionate care of children,” said Arkansas State Police Colonel Mike Hagar. “I know our Troopers want to honor her memory by doing their part to make sure this man is held responsible for her death.”
Governor Sanders previously deployed Arkansas National Guardsmen to the southern border to assist Texas law enforcement as they dealt with a surge in illegal immigration. She deployed 80 guardsmen in the summer of 2023 and 40 guardsmen in the spring of 2024.
Arkansas State Police release more details on grocery store shooting
KUAR | By Josie Lenora
State police are releasing further information on a mass shooting in a small Arkansas town Friday.
The shooting took place at the Mad Butcher grocery store in Fordyce. Three people died in the immediate aftermath of the incident. On Saturday, it was announced that the death toll has risen to four.
In total, 12 other civilians were injured, with four victims still hospitalized. Two police officers were also shot; both have since been released from the hospital. On Sunday, Arkansas State Police gave further details on the incident to members of the media.
Arkansas State Police release more details on grocery store shooting
Josie Lenora/Little Rock Public Radio
Arkansas State Police, led by Director Col. Mike Hagar, address the media Sunday at ASP headquarters in Little Rock.
Arkansas panel will review gun laws with an eye to simplification
KUAR | By Sonny Albarado / Arkansas Advocate
From the Arkansas Advocate:
Arkansas lawmakers will spend the next year holding hearings on the state’s firearms laws with the goal of recommending legislation to align statutes with the Legislature’s strong gun-rights stance.
On Thursday, members of the Arkansas Legislative Council’s Game & Fish/State Policesubcommittee heard a rundown of a planned series of twice-monthly meetings that will review current laws, hear from the public and provide opportunities for making recommendations.
Panel co-chair Rep. Josh Miller, R-Heber Springs, said the subcommittee will “study what we’ve got and see where we need to make adjustments.”
Arkansas panel will review gun laws with an eye to simplification
Sanders Appoints Jeff Long as Director of Arkansas Crime Information Center
LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders announced today that she will appoint Jeff Long to serve as the Director of the Arkansas Crime Information Center.
“Today, I am proud to be appointing Jeff Long to serve as the Director of the Arkansas Crime Information Center,” Sanders said. “His impressive, extensive public service career with 36 years in the military and 31 years in law enforcement will be a tremendous asset in working with our top-notch team at the Department of Public Safety to keep our state safe and secure with reliable, up-to-date crime data.”
“I am humbled by the Governor’s confidence in me to lead the Arkansas Crime Information Center,” Long said. “I have dedicated my career to protecting Arkansans and Americans from harm, fully equipping me to serve the people of Arkansas in this capacity and support law enforcement agencies with timely, accurate information. Both Governor Sanders’ and Colonel Mike Hagar’s strong, tough on crime leadership is exactly what our state needs to reduce violent crime, and I look forward to working together as we empower all Arkansans with a safer, stronger state.”
Jeff Long Bio:
Jeff Long began his public service by joining the Arkansas National Guard in 1982 while still a junior in high school. He later transferred to the Army Reserves, where he rose to the rank of Sergeant Major. During his service, he served in various leadership roles. He was a Platoon Sergeant for a HAZ MAT response and served on the Quick Reactionary Force Team in Bagdad, Iraq, during Operation Iraqi Freedom.
After deployment, he served as Regional Area Manager for the 4th Battalion of the 95th Division instructor group. His mission assignment was teaching Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) advanced and senior leadership courses at U.S. Army Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri. Sergeant Major Long retired from the Army Reserves in 2019 after 36 years of service.
Director Long started his law enforcement career in 1992 with the Russellville Police Department. While there, he served as a training instructor, field training officer, and a member of the SWAT team.
Director Long joined the ranks of the Arkansas State Police in 1997 with his first assignment in Highway Patrol, Troop A. He later became a member of the Honor Guard and transferred to the Executive Protection Division. While he was with the Executive Protection Division he rose to the rank of Lieutenant and served as Assistant Detail Commander.
Director Long’s public service career includes 36 years in the military and 31 years in law enforcement. He is a graduate of the U.S Army Sergeants Majors Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas, and the University of Arkansas Criminal Justice Institute, School of Law Enforcement and Supervision.
Director Long is a member of Victory Missionary Baptist Church in Russellville. He has been married to his wife, Cindy, for 33 years. The couple have beautiful twin daughters.
Governor Hutchinson Appoints Forrest Marks as ASP Colonel
LITTLE ROCK – Governor Asa Hutchinson today announced his appointment of Lt. Col. Forrest Marks as Colonel of the Arkansas State Police (ASP). Lt. Col. Marks is succeeding Col. Bill Bryant, who will retire on December 31, 2022.
Lt. Col. Marks has served in the Arkansas State Police since he began as a Trooper in 1994. Throughout his time at ASP, Lt. Col. Marks has served as Post Sergeant, Highway Patrol Assistant Troop Commander, Troop Commander, and Division Commander. He currently serves as Acting Lieutenant Colonel for Field Operations.
"I'm grateful for Lt. Col. Marks's nearly 30 years in law enforcement and his dedication to the Arkansas State Police," Governor Hutchinson said. "I appreciate his willingness to serve as Colonel, and I am confident he will lead our State Police with integrity and honesty."
Prior to joining the Arkansas State Police in 1995, Lt. Col. Marks served as a patrolman for the Hot Springs Police Department and as a military police officer for the United States Army.
Lt. Col. Marks's appointment will remain in effect until Governor-Elect Sanders's Colonel Designate, Captain Mike Hagar, assumes the position.
Program aims to boost seat belt usage in rural Arkansas communities
KUAR | By Daniel Breen
Five predominantly rural Arkansas counties will take part in a new multi-agency campaign to increase seat belt usage among drivers.
The High Five Rural Traffic Safety Project was announced Wednesday in a news conference at Arkansas State Police headquarters in Little Rock. The program will focus on Calhoun, Cross, Fulton, Monroe and White counties due to their higher-than-average rate of traffic injuries and fatalities.
Daniel Breen/KUAR News
Col. Bill Bryant, director of the Arkansas State Police, speaks with reporters at the department's Little Rock headquarters on Wednesday.
Arkansas State Police officials honor fallen troopers
KUAR | By Daniel Breen
Family members gathered at the Arkansas State Police headquarters in Little Rock on Tuesday to pay tribute to state troopers who’ve died in the line of duty.
The Arkansas State Police held its annual memorial ceremony to honor the 19 officers and two K9 officers who’ve died in the line of duty in the department’s 87-year history.
State Police Lt. Col. Shawn Garner offered his condolences to the friends and family of fallen troopers, with the department’s honor guard presenting a rose for each officer.
Daniel Breen/KUAR News
Dr. Wynona Bryant-Williams, whose husband Trooper Louis Bryant was killed in the line of duty in 1984, addresses family and friends of fallen state troopers at the Arkansas State Police headquarters in Little Rock.
Weekly Update from State Representative DeAnn Vaught
This week, a subcommittee of Arkansas Legislative Council that provides oversight for Arkansas Game and Fish and Arkansas State Police heard from Arkansas State Police Director Col. Bill Bryant regarding recent successes and challenges facing state troopers.
His testimony alerted us to some startling statistics regarding an increase in aggressive driving and fatal accidents in our state.
In 2018, the Arkansas State Police Highway Patrol Division conducted 520 crash investigations involving fatal injuries. In 2019, the number was 505.
But in 2020, that number increased by 27% to 641 deaths. Col. Bryant says 14% of those crashes documented excessive speed of the vehicle as a contributing factor.
So far this year, the division says they have conducted investigations of accidents resulting in more than 330 deaths.
The number of citations related to acts of aggressive driving is also on the rise.
In 2019, there were 1,064 citations issues. In 2020, there were 2,030 citations issued.
So far this year, Arkansas State Police have issued more than 2,380 citations with some documented speeds as high as 160 miles per hour.
Aggressive driving incidents have included acts of violence documented by troopers assigned to the Arkansas State Police Highway Patrol Division and investigated by Special Agents of the department’s Criminal Investigation Division. Colonel Bryant testified the troopers and special agents confirm an explicit increase in incidents of gunfire involving motorists shooting at and into other vehicles traveling along Arkansas highways.
The Arkansas State Police Highway Patrol Division commanders are proactive with respect to patrol assignments to combat the incidents of aggressive driving and ensuring saturated patrols dedicated to speed enforcement are regularly occurring.
The division is dedicating the use of the department’s aircraft to monitor broad sections of U.S. and state highway traffic. The troopers operating these aircraft are in radio communication with ground patrols, providing them with speed and reckless driving observations, directing these highway patrol ground vehicles to specific locations where the violations are being observed.
Each highway patrol division troop commander has immediate access to deploy low profile patrol vehicles with minimal Arkansas State Police markings and different colors, unlike the white with blue stripe markings motorists are accustomed to seeing. These vehicles blend into traffic, allowing troopers a better perspective to identify speeding and dangerous driving and take immediate enforcement action.
While we continue to look for ways to support our law enforcement further, there are some ways every Arkansan can help keep our roads safer.
Arkansans are encouraged to let the troopers know they’re appreciated for what they’re doing to keep local highways safe. Likewise, citizens should speak up and let the troopers know where they are witnessing regular incidents of lawlessness on the highways. Citizens shouldn’t hesitate to reach out to the commanders at these local headquarters. Arkansas motorists traveling across the state are encouraged to call 9-1-1 and ask to be connected to the nearest state police headquarters to report incidents of dangerous driving they witness on U.S. and state highways.
A listing of the twelve Highway Patrol Division Troop Headquarters, including local telephone numbers and points of contact, can be found on our website www.arkansashouse.org.
Lockesburg Man Killed While Repairing Truck
Arkansas State Police investigated an accident where a Lockesburg man was killed while trying to repair his truck. Torey L. Piggee, 44, of Lockesburg was killed Wednesday in Texarkana while attempting to repair his 2009 Freightliner. The vehicle rolled over Piggee. He was taken to the Miller County Coroner’s Office.