RIVER RADIO NEWS 012915
PROSECUTOR FINDS POLICE WERE JUSTIFIED FOR USING LETHAL FORCE ON NORTHEAST ARKANSAS MAN
A prosecutor has found that four Northeast Arkansas law enforcement officers were justified in using lethal force on an area man earlier this month.
Second Judicial Prosecutor Scott Ellington made the ruling in the shooting of Brandon Johnson, of Jonesboro.
Johnson was caught by police allegedly attempting to deliver a large quantity of methamphetamine on January 9th. According to KAIT, police say that Johnson tried to run over the officers.
Johnson suffered a gunshot wound to the arm in the incident. He is facing charges of aggravated assault, possession of meth or cocaine with purpose to deliver, and fleeing in a vehicle.
POACHER BUSTED IN RIPLEY COUNTY
A poacher was recently busted in Ripley County.
According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, agents caught the poacher on the Little Black River with a large number of illegally gigged bass.
The fish were confiscated and donated to a local needy family. The identity of the poacher was not released.
Anyone wanting to report suspected poaching or other game violations, can call Operation Game Thief at 800-392-1111.
MORLEY MAN IN CUSTODY ON DRUG CHARGE
A Morley man is facing drug charges in connection to an investigation in Scott County.
According to Scott County Sheriff Rick Walter, officers pulled over a vehicle Tuesday night and while questioning the driver, he provided information that indicated 19 year old Bryce Western should be investigated.
The investigation led officers to a residence which resulted in them finding a gas mask modified for smoking marijuana; a container with a green leafy substance believed to be marijuana; and a pill believed to be a schedule four controlled substance.
Western was arrested on charges of possession of a controlled substance, possession of up to 35 grams of marijuana, and unlawful use of drug paraphernalia.
CHARGES BEING FILED AGAINST SEVEN INDIVIDUALS IN CONNECTION TO FIGHT
The Steele Police Department says charges are being filed against multiple individuals in connection to a fight on Sunday.
Police Chief Bill Joe Stanfield says that officers were dispatched to a bar in reference to a fight in progress. When they arrived at the bar, they found several individuals outside.
Officers discovered that the front glass window of a business across the street from the bar was shattered. Several people had been injured from falling through the glass window and received medical treatment for their injuries.
Charges of disorderly conduct by fighting and property damage are being filed on seven individuals. Arrests are expected to be made in the near future.
CAPE GIRARDEAU POLICE ISSUE SCAM ALERT
The Cape Girardeau Police Department has issued a scam alert following a report by a local woman.
The elderly woman told police a male came to her door wanting to inspect her home for mold. He then climbed on her roof.
The man was on the roof for a few minutes before coming down and charging her a fee.
Authorities say area residents should report to police if any suspicious people come to your door.
GOVERNOR JAY NIXON MAKES STOP IN SOUTHEAST MISSOURI
Missouri Governor Jay Nixon was in Southeast Missouri yesterday to celebrate Missouri’s best year for job growth in 17 years and recognize workforce development efforts in Cape Girardeau County.
Governor Nixon visited packaging company Mondi Jackson on Wednesday. During the stop, Nixon highlighted the designation of Cape Girardeau County as a Certified Work Ready Community.
Nixon also talked about Missouri’s job growth during the visit. The monthly jobs report released by the Missouri Department of Economic Development last week showed the state’s unemployment rate dropped to 5.4 percent, the lowest since April 2008.
RAILROAD REPAIRS TODAY IN WAYNE COUNTY
Contractor crews will be in Wayne County today for railroad crossing repairs.
Highway 49 is scheduled to be reduced from 8 am to 4 pm for the repairs between the Mill Spring city limits and Birch Street.
MODOT CREWS TO BE IN NEW MADRID COUNTY THIS WEEK
Highway 61 in New Madrid County will be reduced to one lane today and tomorrow as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform drainage repairs.
The work zone will be located between Route M and Highway 162.
Weather permitting, work will performed from 7:30 am to 3:30 pm each day.
MISSOURI ATTORNEY GENERAL ENDORSES BODY CAMERAS FOR POLICE
(AP) - Missouri's attorney general says police should wear body cameras more frequently but that the public and media shouldn't have unfettered access to the recordings.
Attorney General Chris Koster said in a letter sent to lawmakers Tuesday that concerns about individual privacy made current public records laws unsuitable for widespread use of body cameras.
Requiring police to wear cameras to record their actions is one proposal filed by lawmakers in response to the fatal shooting of Michael Brown, an unarmed 18 year old black man, by a white Ferguson police officer.
Supporters of body cameras say widespread use would provide evidence of what happened in situations like Brown's shooting.
Koster agrees but says there should be restrictions on the footage to prevent voyeurism at the expense of privacy for those recorded.
MISSOURI PANEL HEARS OBJECTIONS TO VOTER PHOTO ID PROPOSAL
(AP) - Missouri Republican lawmakers say requiring photo identification at the polls will prevent voter impersonation fraud.
Bill sponsor Representative Tony Dugger, of Hartville, said during a House hearing on Tuesday that he has included exemptions for older Missourians and a way for those without a valid, non-expired photo identification to get one free of charge.
The bill would make Missouri one of the strictest states for voter identification.
Only non-expired Missouri or federal government issued ID would be accepted.
Voters must approve a constitutional amendment to allow the state to require photo ID because the Missouri Supreme Court has ruled any photo ID requirement violates individual voting rights.
Opponents say the legislation seeks to disenfranchise groups who traditionally support Democrats and are less likely to have a photo ID.
MISSOURI LAWMAKERS, ELECTED OFFICIALS LIKELY TO GET RAISE
(AP) - Missouri lawmakers and state elected officials likely will be getting a pay raise.
Legislative efforts to prevent the raise stalled Wednesday after a filibuster by some state Senate Democrats, who say the current $35,915 a year isn't enough considering the amount of work by lawmakers.
A state commission in November recommended $4,000 more for legislators and 8 percent more for the governor and other state officials in fiscal years 2016 and 2017.
Suggested increases take effect automatically if lawmakers do nothing to prevent them before Sunday.
Republican Senator Rob Schaaf of St. Joseph says lawmakers don't need a pay raise. He says the money could be better spent on raises for state employees or funding for other programs.
But Schaaf says he won't try again to block the increases.
