Benton County sheriff apologizes for policy mistake

BENTONVILLE -- Benton County Sheriff Shawn Holloway apologized for a policy leading to refusing to jail people arrested on felony warrants.

"I apologize to the court," Holloway said Thursday morning. "Our intent was to protect the inmates and our employees."

Holloway said it was his responsibility a policy was put in place by his command staff in response to the covid-19 pandemic.

Circuit Judge Robin Green issued summons in five cases for Holloway to appear in her court after the five people weren't put in jail even though there were warrants for their arrests.

Joshua Robinson, deputy prosecutor, said the county's Central Communications forwarded an email March 20 to local law enforcement agencies stating the Sheriff's Office wouldn't be confirming warrants on non-violent offenses nor would deputies leave the county to pick up individuals arrested on nonviolent warrants.

The email was sent by Capt. Andy Lee at the direction of Chief Deputy Meyer Gilbert, Robinson said. Holloway wasn't copied on the email, Robinson said.

The policy was put into place by the Sheriff's Office command staff with the intent of protecting inmates and jail staff from the virus, Robinson said. The Sheriff's Office didn't consult the Prosecutor's Office before putting the policy in place, Robinson said.

Robinson said the Prosecutor's Office became aware of the policy and told multiple people at the Sheriff's Office the policy didn't comply with state law. Holloway was eventually contacted and he agreed, Robinson said.

Robinson said Holloway was unaware the wrong policy had been implemented and it was corrected May 26 after Green summoned Holloway to appear in court.

Robinson said the jail didn't check to confirm in-state non-felony warrants for 36 people, but 13 of the individuals were later arrested on the warrants.

Green said she was informed of the policy in May by a probation officer in open court. The officer told her he arrested an absconder probation officers had been seeking for over a year and the jail refused to accept him. The probation officer said he had to take the handcuffs off the arrested absconder and watched him walk away from the jail.

Some police officers began to ask her when they could resume making felony arrests, Green said.

Green said she later issued an arrest warrant for Alfredo Arroyo and was asked to expedite it because law enforcement was concerned about his role in a drive-by shooting. Green said she was then notified the jail refused to accept Arroyo.

"It was extremely troubling in terms of prosecuting criminal cases," Green said.

She said jailers weren't only violating their sworn oaths, but also stripping other law enforcement officers of their authority.

"That policy was extremely problematic and causing problems for the entire justice system in the county," she said.

Holloway said the policy wasn't an intentional act.

Robinson and Bentonville lawyer Shane Wilkinson, who represents Holloway, said they talked with chiefs of local law enforcement agencies and the issue was resolved.

Wilkinson said the Sheriff's Office was cooperative in resolving the issue.

Green said she appreciated Robinson and Wilkinson confirmed the policy had been corrected.

"I couldn't imagine that you were on board with this policy," Green told Holloway.

Green took no action.

"The sheriff wasn't held in contempt because it was simply a mistake," Wilkinson said. "A mistake made trying to protect the inmate population, the deputies at the Sheriff's Office, and the public. Contempt has to be willful and there has never been one shred of evidence that he did anything willful."

Holloway announced last week some inmates and some jail employees tested positive for the virus. One hundred and seventy-five inmates tested positive for the virus, but only one with underlying medical conditions was hospitalized. The others are all asymptomatic, along with 14 jail employees.

There were 369 prisoners in the jail Thursday.