Former City of Alexander police officer court hearing Friday, jury trial set for October

A court hearing for former City of Alexander Police Officer Nancy Cummings has been set for 9 AM tomorrow (August 30) in a Saline County Court. She was charged with manslaughter in January by Saline County Prosecuting Attorney Ken Casady. A jury trial has been set for October 3 and 4.

The manslaughter charge comes from a shooting which occurred in Alexander September 8, 2012. The incident was investigated by the Arkansas State Police.

According to the state police report Cummings encountered Carleton Wallace walking on Brookwood Road around 4:30 PM Saturday, September 8th, 2012. While attempting to arrest Wallace, Cummings’s gun discharged hitting Wallace. He was transported to Saline Memorial Hospital where he was later pronounced dead.

Cummings told State Police she noticed Wallace carrying a pistol tucked in his pants and that he threw it into the woods when he saw her. When attempting to arrest him and search him for weapons, Cummings says her service weapon she had been holding discharged.

Her 28-year old daughter was riding with her in the police vehicle at the time of the shooting.

After the incident Alexander Police Chief Horace Walters said he hired Cummings in January, 2012 and had received no complaints against her. Walters also said she wasn't a certified police officer. Walters added he followed the law when hiring Cummings, although she had not, as yet, gone through the 12 weeks of basic training at the Arkansas Academy of Law Enforcement.

Walters said she had passed the standard mental and physical evaluation. And, he added, she had to ride with an officer and get to know the operations of the agency.

Prior to working at the Alexander Police Department, Cummings worked for the Pulaski County jail from 1997 to 2004 and the Arkansas Department of Correction from 2005 to 2011.

City of Alexander to hold Crime Watch meeting

If you're looking for something to do this Labor Day weekend the City of Alexander Police Department is holding a public meeting to discuss its Crime Watch program. The public is invited to attend the meeting being held on Saturday (August 31), 2 PM at City Hall, 15605 Alexander Rd. (Hwy 111).

The meeting has been organized by Assistant Chief Derrick Jackson.

According to a flyer posted at key places in Alexander Jackson says, "We are inviting everyone in the community to join our monthly meeting. We will be discussing our new code enforcement program."

He also states on the flier, "This program will enhance neighborhoods and works to ensure citizen's health, safety and general welfare through efficient and effective city code compliance."

Alexander City Council declares vacancy in Ward-3

Ward-3 Alderman Dan Church's resignation from the Alexander City Council was accepted by the council and his seat declared vacant at the council's August 19 regular meeting. He submitted his hand-written letter of resignation to Mayor Michelle Hobbs on Thursday, July 18. The letter gave no reason for his resignation.

Anyone wishing to apply for the position may submit a resume to City Hall before the next regular meeting, which will be held Monday, September 16. You must be a registered voter and a resident of Ward-3. Ward-3 is highlighted in yellow on the map.

This was Church's first time serving on the council. Church was elected in November, 2012 defeating incumbent Harvey Howard.

This makes the third alderman to leave the council since November's election. The first was Ward-4 Alderman Henry Tackett, who was also elected for the first time during the November, 2012 election. He resigned for health reasons and died shortly after. The second was Ward-3 Alderman Jack Shoemaker, who resigned after moving out of the city.