By JOEL PHELPS | The Arkadelphian
An alleged fraudster found herself in a heap of trouble after asking the wrong person for a fraudulent handout.
According to an incident report on file at the Arkadelphia Police Department, the suspect was going around downtown about midday Friday, asking folks for donations to benefit the Clark County Library. She eventually bumped into one man, apparently unaware he is the head honcho of county government, and asked for some moolah.
Clark County Judge Troy Tucker wasn’t duped when he was asked for a monetary donation on behalf of the county’s library. Tucker instead bookmarked her request, calling the library’s director to their location near 5th and Clinton streets. The library director confirmed what the judge had suspicioned — that there was no fundraiser for the public library. That’s when Tucker, a former lawman himself, phoned the police department.
Officers began talking to others in the area who said the suspect had approached them as well. A downtown shop employee and a young boy both told officers they had given the woman small cash donations, as they were under the impression their money was going toward the library.
The woman was taken into custody and transported a couple of blocks to the county jail, where she was issued a citation for theft and released after the booking process. She was also informed that she would be banned from the library.