Digby asked to disclose facts of BB gun shooting

Council member takes aim at mayor during open hearing.

— Alderman Ryan Evans, in the open hearing portion of the Oct. 11 city council meeting, called upon Highfill’s mayor, Stacy Digby, to explain his actions in a Sept. 23 shooting incident.

Evans asked Digby to disclose the facts related to the incident in the public meeting, but Digby declined, saying that the report filed with the county sheriff's office - and also summarized in the newspaper - was accurate and all that needed to be said.

According to a report from the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, Digby and a 35-year-oldwoman were “goofing around” with a BB gun. The woman shot Digby in the leg and the mayor took the gun and shot the woman in the stomach, according to the report. The pellet embedded in the woman’s stomach and she was treated and released at Siloam Springs Memorial Hospital.

According tothe report, the woman did not want to press charges and the shooting was listed as accidental. Digby was neither charged nor arrested in the incident.

"I think, as mayor you should be held to a higher standard," Evans said to Digby, calling the shooting "an incident and not an accident."

Evans then asked the mayor how many times he pumped up the air gun, adding that heheard the mayor pumped it up 12 times before shooting the un-named woman in the stomach. Digby did not answer.

"I want the facts on what happened," Evans said.

"I gave all the facts at the time. Everything is covered in the county police report," Digby said in response.

"Idon't need to say anything else."

Evans said no one, unless he was drinking, would pump up an air gun 12 times and shoot someone with it.

Larry Barnes, Highfill businessman and former council member, said he was concerned about the issue and its repercussions upon the townand businesses in town.

"I feel like the citizens of Highfill need to know and be informed of the truth," Barnes said, calling upon the council to investigate the incident and take appropriate action.

Highfill resident Gary Holland, Sr., said there should be some repercussions for the mayor's actions.

"We all screw up and make mistakes," HollandDIGBYsaid, "but we need to not sweep things under the rug."

Council member Sandy Evans (not an immediate relative of Ryan Evans) said Digby called her after the incident and related to her the facts. She said she was satisfied with Digby’s explanation of the facts but did not disclose any of that information in the open meeting.

Just before Digby closed the open hearing, Ryan Evans said to Digby: "You embarrass the town; you embarrass the citizens; you embarrass the council."

News, Pages 1 on 10/18/2011