Sheriff’s Weekly Report:
Sept. 28th- Oct. 3rd
On 9/28/2023 Chief Deputy Jonathan Byrd was patrolling Ford Place Loop Road, just outside Dumas, when he observed a White female and Hispanic male, riding bicycles on a turn road on private property, just north of Ford Place Loop Road. Upon making contact with the subjects, both admitted they did not have permission by the land owner to be on the property. Chief Deputy Byrd noticed that the female, who was identified as 27-year-old Dakota Moreland of Dumas, was acting very nervously. Moreland removed the backpack that she was wearing and laid it on the ground and walked away from it. Due to the suspicious behavior of the subject, Chief Deputy Byrd asked Moreland for permission to search the bag, which she agreed to. Chief Deputy Byrd asked Moreland what he was going to find inside, and after initially stating a “roach,” she admitted that she had Methamphetamine inside the bag. A clear baggie containing Methamphetamine was located inside the backpack. Due to not having a county jail and our two city jails not holding female prisoners, the illegal drugs were seized, and Moreland will be charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, and served with a summons for a Desha County Circuit Court date.
On Friday, September 29th, Deputy Kerri Womack completed a week long Critical Incident Training Course, that was hosted by the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (CLEST). The training focused on the fundamentals of crisis and trauma, and how to provide trauma mitigation, education and emotional first aid in the aftermath of a critical incident, in addition to recognizing and working through problems with emotionally distressed individuals and those that may have mental challenges. This training will be shared with all the Deputies at the Sheriff’s Office, as we continue to seek training that will equip us to be the best Sheriff’s Office that we can be, for the citizens of Desha County.
