Clark County deputy facing felony theft charges

By JOEL PHELPS | arkadelphian.com

PRESCOTT, Arkansas — A Clark County lawman is facing allegations that he committed felony theft and burglary in another county where he worked as a police officer.

Joshua Kyle Waldrum is accused of stealing numerous items from fellow police officers at the Prescott Police Department. Waldrum was an officer there until recent weeks, when he became a full-time Clark County deputy on May 15. Prior to that he had worked part time as a Clark County deputy.

An internal investigation by the PPD was turned over to the Nevada County Sheriff’s Office on May 29. A police affidavit accuses Waldrum, 36, of stealing more than $1,300 worth of police equipment belonging to fellow officers. 

The alleged stealing spree started before Waldrum’s last day at PPD, on May 27. The affidavit notes that Waldrum didn’t turn in part of his department-issued uniform, and that’s when other patrolmen began noticing their belongings were missing. Two fellow officers claimed that Waldrum stole their flashlights and accessories, and a sergeant alleged that Waldrum forced entry into his locked office, where he allegedly stole numerous boxes of ammunition. Firearm accessories were reportedly taken from a police department property room. In addition, the police chief had a large cooking pot come up missing. When the assistant chief returned from medical leave on June 11, he noticed several firearm accessories were missing from his office.

The affidavit says the thefts were caught on surveillance camera as Waldrum “forcefully entered the room” wearing a backpack, which he took to the assistant chief’s locked office door, out of view of the camera. “All stolen items were observed on the camera in Waldrum’s possession,” the affidavit notes.

NCSO filed its affidavit with 8N Prosecuting Attorney Ben Hale. The potential charges include Commercial Burglary, Breaking and Entering, and Theft of Property. Hale had not filed formal charges at the time of this writing.

Court documents obtained by The Arkadelphian show that Waldrum was arrested Tuesday, June 16, and that his $2,500 bond was posted that same day following his first court appearance in Nevada County. He has retained Arkadelphia attorney Jonathan Huber for legal representation. His next court date is set for July 16.

The recent allegations aren’t the first run-ins Waldrum has had with law enforcement. In 2021 he was cited by an Arkansas Game & Fish Commission game warden for wasting edible portions of wildlife, an offense for which he was fined. In 2022 he was charged again by AGFC game wardens for harvesting more deer than the limit allowed. He was fined for that offense, as well. Waldrum has been employed by the Clark County Sheriff’s Office off and on in some capacity since his initial hire date of 2018.

Asked about the current allegations against his deputy, Clark County Sheriff Jason Watson had no comment other than to say Waldrum was terminated as a Clark County deputy.