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SAY. YEAH, I’LL TELL YOU THIS MORNING, THEY ACTUALLY SPOKE AND ANSWERED QUESTIONS FOR AN HOUR THIS MORNING HERE IN JASPER, BREAKING DOWN WHAT EXACTLY LED UP TO YESTERDAY’S ARREST OF SHERIFFS? SHERIFF NICK SMITH AND WHY THIS INVESTIGATION IS NOT OVER YET. THE INVESTIGATION LEADING TO SHERIFF NICK SMITH’S ARREST STARTED LAST SUMMER WHEN HE ASKED THE STATE TO CERTIFY NEWLY HIRED DEPUTY FROM ARIZONA. A REVIEW OF HIS ARIZONA POLICE RECORDS REFLECTED THAT HE WAS SUSPENDED BY ARIZONA POST FOLLOWING AN INVESTIGATION OF A COMPLAINT OF EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE. THE STATE REJECTED THE DEPUTY’S CERTIFICATION AND A POST ALAN BENEFIELD CLAIMS THEY QUICKLY REALIZED SHERIFF SMITH EMPLOYED FIVE OTHERS WITH ARREST POWERS WITHOUT THE REQUIRED CREDENTIALS. FOUR WERE SCHOOL RESOURCE OFFICERS. THEY TECHNICALLY HAD NO MORE AUTHORITY THAN A PRIVATE CITIZEN. HOW SCARY IS THAT? HOW SCARY IS IT? I THINK IT’S DANGEROUS FOR THE COMMUNITY. I THINK IT’S DANGEROUS FOR OUR SCHOOL SYSTEM AND OUR TEACHERS. HOURS AFTER HIS ARREST, SHERIFF NICK SMITH PLEDGED TO DEFEND THE CHARGES. HE CALLED POLITICAL, CLAIMING, I DID NOT PLAY A ROLE IN EITHER OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S CAMPAIGNS. HE SHOULD REMOVE HIMSELF FROM MEIN. I THINK IT SHOWS THE ALTERNATE REALITY THAT THE SHERIFF IS IN. THIS ISN’T LITTLE DA PODUNK DA. OKAY, THIS IS THIS IS THE ENTIRE SYSTEM. DA BILL ADAIR SAYS THE ATTORNEY GENERAL WILL HELP PROSECUTE THE CASE INVESTIGATED BY THE STATE, WHICH BENEFIELD SAID IS NOT FINISHED YET. THE POST COMMISSION COULD STILL REVOKE THE SHERIFF CERTIFICATION. IT’S HIGHLY UNUSUAL THAT WE RUN INTO A SITUATION LIKE THIS WHERE THE AGENCY HAD JUST ABSOLUTELY REFUSES TO FOLLOW THE LAW. THE SIX MISDEMEANOR SMITH FACES EACH CARRY UP TO THREE MONTHS IN JAIL AND A $500 FINE. CITRONELLE IDER SAYS A NEW LAW THAT GOES INTO EFFECT IN OCTOBER WOULD MAKE THESE KINDS OF VIOLATIONS A FELONY, MEANING IF THE SHERIFF HAD BEEN CHARGED, SAY, SIX MONTHS FROM NOW AND LATER CONVICTED, HE WOULD HAVE BEEN REMOVED FROM