http://www.hempsteadcountyar.com/

Hempstead County Sheriff, 312 South, Hope, AR (2026)

08/28/2026

UPDATE

Four-Year-Old Victim succumbs to injuries

August 31, 2026 — Hempstead County, Arkansas

At approximately 8:50 a.m. on Sunday, August 30, 2026, Hempstead County Investigators were notified by Arkansas Children’s Hospital that the four-year-old victim had succumbed to her injuries.

This is a heartbreaking and deeply disturbing case. The Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office extends its deepest condolences to the child’s family and loved ones. Our thoughts and prayers are with them during this unimaginable time.

James Ivey, 33, of Emmet, Arkansas, was arrested by Hempstead County Investigators and charged with
• Capital R**e
• Domestic Battering in the First Degree
• Unlawful Female Mutilation of a Minor
• Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree

Ivey remains in custody at the Hempstead County Detention Center He appeared before Circuit Judge Joe Short on Friday and bond was set at Two Million dollars.

The investigation remains active and ongoing. Investigators are continuing to work closely with the Arkansas State Police and other appropriate agencies. Additional charges / Arrests may be filed as the investigation continues and evidence is reviewed.

The Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office would like to express its appreciation to the Arkansas State Police, Southwest Arkansas Regional Hospital, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, and Pafford EMS for their assistance and professional efforts throughout this investigation and in attempting to save this child’s life.

Because this is an active criminal investigation involving the death of a child, no further details regarding the circumstances of the child’s injuries will be released at this time.

Hempstead County Investigators Arrest Emmet Man Following Investigation into Severe Abuse of Four-Year-Old Child.

August 28, 2026 — Hempstead County, Arkansas

The Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office is announcing the arrest of 33-year-old James Ivey of Emmet, Arkansas, following a serious and disturbing investigation involving the alleged abuse of a four-year-old female child.

On Thursday, August 26, 2026, the child was brought to Southwest Arkansas Regional Hospital following a reported drowning. What initially appeared to be a drowning incident quickly became the subject of a much more serious criminal investigation.

Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office Investigators, working closely with Special Agents of the Arkansas State Police, immediately began examining the circumstances surrounding the child’s injuries. Through the course of their investigation, investigators uncovered evidence indicating that the child had been severely abused.
The child was transported by Pafford EMS to Arkansas Children’s Hospital, where she remains in critical condition.

As a result of the investigation, James Ivey, 33, of Emmet, Arkansas, was arrested by Hempstead County Investigators and charged with:
• Capital R**e
• Domestic Battering in the First Degree
• Unlawful Female Mutilation of a Minor
• Terroristic Threatening in the First Degree
Ivey is currently being held in the Hempstead County Detention Center pending his first appearance in court.

Sheriff’s Statement
Sheriff James A. Singleton stated:

“There is nothing more important to us than protecting the children of Hempstead County. The allegations uncovered during this investigation are extremely disturbing, and our investigators have worked diligently to determine exactly what happened to this innocent child.

“Our investigators, along with the Arkansas State Police, will continue to pursue every piece of evidence in this case. When a child is allegedly subjected to this type of violence and abuse, we will not look the other way, and we will not stop until we have done everything within the law to hold those responsible accountable.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with this young child and her family as she fights for her life. We ask the citizens of Hempstead County and surrounding communities to keep this child in their prayers.

“I also want to make it absolutely clear that the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office will continue to stand up for those who cannot stand up for themselves—especially our children.”

The Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office extends its appreciation to the Arkansas State Police Special Agents, Southwest Arkansas Regional Hospital, Arkansas Children’s Hospital, and Pafford EMS for their assistance and professional response during this investigation.

This investigation remains active and ongoing. Investigators will continue working with the Arkansas State Police and other appropriate agencies as additional evidence is examined.

Additional charges may be filed as the investigation continues.
The Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office will release additional information when it can be legally and appropriately disclosed without compromising the ongoing investigation or the rights of those involved.

Sheriff James A. Singleton
Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office
Hope, Arkansas

08/21/2026

Let’s Work Together to End Drunk Driving!

Hempstead County, Arkansas — From August 19 through September 7, 2026, the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will be working alongside local law enforcement to deter drunk driving and prevent tragedies during the Labor Day holiday weekend. The message is clear: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over.

During the 2024 Labor Day holiday (6 p.m. August 30 - 5:59 a.m. September 3), there were 505 traffic crash fatalities nationwide. Of these 505 fatalities, 34% (170) involved a drunk driver. Seventy-seven percent of the impaired drivers killed had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .15 or higher. Among drivers between the ages of 18 and 34 who were killed in crashes over the Labor Day holiday in 2024, 40% of those drivers were drunk, with BACs of .08 or higher.

“We want our community members to understand that it’s our first priority to keep people safe, so we’re asking everyone to plan ahead if they know they’ll be out drinking,” said Sheriff James Singleton. “The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign is an awareness effort to get the message out that drunk driving is illegal and it kills. Let’s make this a partnership between law enforcement and drivers: Help us protect the community and put an end to this dangerous behavior.”

If a driver intends to drink during a Labor Day festivity, he or she should plan ahead for a safe ride home by securing a designated driver or calling a taxi or rideshare. They shouldn’t wait until after drinking to plan how to get somewhere. Impairment clouds a person’s judgment and endangers others on the road.

If a driver finds they are unable to drive, they should give their keys to a sober driver so that person can get them home safely. When a friend has been drinking and is considering driving, friends should be proactive — take away the keys and help them get a sober ride home. If anyone spots a drunk driver, contact local law enforcement.

For more information on impaired driving, visit NHTSA.gov/Drunk-driving.
# # #

08/17/2026

Come on out and help us celebrate Joycelyn's service

08/05/2026

Back-to-School Safety Message from Sheriff James A. Singleton.

As another school year begins, I would like to extend my best wishes to all of the students, teachers, school staff, and parents throughout Hempstead County. A new school year is an exciting time filled with opportunities to learn, grow, and make lasting memories.

With the increased traffic around our schools, I want to remind everyone to make safety a top priority.

To Our Drivers:
• Slow down and obey all posted school zone speed limits.
• Watch carefully for children crossing streets, especially near school entrances and bus stops.
• Never pass a school bus when its stop arm is extended and red lights are flashing.
• Eliminate distractions while driving. Put your phone down and focus on the road.
• Allow yourself extra travel time during the morning and afternoon hours.

To Our Students:
• Always use crosswalks where available and look both ways before crossing the street.
• Stay alert and avoid distractions such as texting or wearing headphones while walking near traffic.
• Listen to your parents, teachers, bus drivers, and School Resource Officers.
• If you see something that doesn't seem right, tell a trusted adult immediately.

To Our Parents:
• Talk with your children about safe walking, bicycling, and bus safety.
• Make sure younger children know their transportation plans before leaving for school.

• Please be patient during pick-up and drop-off times and follow school traffic patterns to help keep everyone safe.

The Hempstead County Sheriff's Office is proud to partner with our local school districts to help provide a safe learning environment for every student. Our deputies and School Resource Officers will be working throughout the school year to ensure our schools remain safe places where students can focus on their education.

On behalf of the men and women of the Hempstead County Sheriff's Office, we wish everyone a safe, successful, and rewarding school year. Together, by staying alert and looking out for one another, we can help ensure every child arrives safely at school and returns home each day.

May God bless our students, our educators, our families, and the citizens of Hempstead County.

Sheriff James A. Singleton
Hempstead County Sheriff's Office

07/27/2026

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office Joins National Offender Watch S*x Offender Network

Hempstead County Deputies Can Now Easily Share Data and Collaborate on Investigations;

Citizens Gain Access to Free Email Alerts

Hope, AR. July 27, 2026 the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office announced today that it has joined the nationwide OffenderWatch s*x offender registry network, which enables interagency collaboration on investigations and sharing of critical information involving registered s*x offenders with other local law enforcement agencies across the country. In addition, residents of Hempstead County can use the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office website to search for s*x offenders residing in their neighborhood and subscribe to receive email alerts from the http://www.sheriffalerts.com/ar/Hempstead

OffenderWatch is the nation's leading s*x offender registration solution, with over 15,000 unique users in 33 states. More than 3,500 local and state law enforcement agencies are utilizing the software to keep track of registered offenders across jurisdictions, collaborate on interagency operations, and automatically notify the community through the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office website and email alerts.

“Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office is pleased to join the coast-to-coast OffenderWatch network in order to better share information, coordinate investigations, and collaborate on s*x offenders,” said Sheriff James A. Singleton “When a registered offender moves from outside the county, deputies save countless hours researching and re-entering data because the offender record is seamlessly shared from one agency to the other. OffenderWatch builds a history of the data we have on file, and this facilitates registry staff, investigators and others working together. So, our deputies can be more proactive in offender management and keeping the community aware.”

There are over 900,000 registered s*x offenders in the United States, according to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. However, agencies often use disparate systems for managing s*x offenders. OffenderWatch allows different law enforcement agencies to collaborate on a single offender record, improving accuracy and aiding in public safety.

“We believe data shared between law enforcement agencies leads to better investigations and safer cities and counties,” said Mike Cormaci, president, and co-founder of OffenderWatch. “With the Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office joining our network, OffenderWatch now has most of the nation's children covered by our reach—hopefully leading to fewer victims.”

OffenderWatch allows the sheriff’s office to better collaborate on investigations with the U.S. Marshals, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) teams and other investigators. Further, the citizens of Hempstead County can now access a dedicated OffenderWatch page that enables them to search for nearby offenders and receive real-time email alerts regarding relocation of s*x offenders within their community.

Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office is also now offering the free OffenderWatch App for download on both Android and iPhone smartphone devices. After installing the app, citizens will be able to see registered s*x offenders located near them or their family members. They will also receive free alerts when a registered s*x offender moves into their neighborhood. The app also offers online safety information and tips for how to talk to children about s*x offenders.

To learn more about OffenderWatch and sign up for email alerts on offenders, visit www.offenderwatch.com.

# # #

About OffenderWatch
There are over 900,000 registered s*x offenders in the United States. Many states have different systems for registering and tracking these offenders, making it difficult for agencies to track offender relocations across state lines, share electronic offender records, and collaborate on investigations. OffenderWatch works with law enforcement agencies to provide a national network of registries and notification tools to easily communicate information to the public. Founded in 2000 in Covington, La. under the Watch Systems company, OffenderWatch provides a variety of services to sheriffs’ offices, police departments, Attorney’s General offices, U.S. Marshal judicial districts, U.S. attorneys, federal and state probation and parole agents, departments of corrections, Indian tribes, and more. OffenderWatch partnered with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Canada to deliver the Canadian National S*x Offender Registry. In 2019, OffenderWatch launched a new, patented technology, the OffenderWatch App. The mobile app locates registered s*x offenders near parents and their kids and identifies online contact from registered s*x offenders through a kid’s electronic device or if their device lingers near an offender’s residence, instantly alerting parents to the communication. Learn more at OffenderWatch.com or on Facebook .

MEDIA CONTACT
For Hempstead County Sheriff’s Office: Sheriff James Singleton, Deputy Marla Gullion
For OffenderWatch: Emily Mayeaux @ [email protected]

07/10/2026

Hempstead County, Arkansas — The U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reminds drivers that speeding has legal consequences. As part of the Speeding Slows You Down high-visibility enforcement campaign, drivers will see more law enforcement on the roads.
Speeding-related fatalities affect communities nationwide every year. In 2024, there were 11,288 speed-related traffic fatalities, accounting for 29% of all traffic fatalities. Young drivers have a higher chance of being involved in speeding-related crashes. In 2024, 39% of male drivers and 20% of female drivers in the 15- to 20-year-old age group involved in fatal traffic crashes were speeding.

Speeding is an aggressive and deadly behavior. It reduces a driver’s ability to steer safely around another vehicle, a hazardous object, or an unexpected curve. “Speed limits are in place to keep all road users safe. Every mile per hour over the limit increases the risk of a crash and the severity of injuries,” said Hempstead County Sheriff James Singleton “Violating the speed limit and driving too fast for road conditions endangers everyone on the road. No excuse — lateness, traffic, or otherwise — makes it okay,” [he/she] said.
The consequences of speeding can lead to a costly ticket, potential jail time, or worse, a crash resulting in injuries or death.

“All drivers and riders are on notice: slow down and obey the posted speed limits,” said Sheriff Singleton “It’s the law, and it saves lives.”
For more information on speeding, visit NHTSA.gov/Speeding.

07/08/2026

HEMPSTEAD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
SCAM ALERT – BEWARE OF FRAUDULENT PHONE CALLS

The Hempstead County Sheriff's Office is warning all residents of an ongoing telephone scam targeting citizens in our area.
Individuals are calling residents and falsely identifying themselves as Deputy Steven Glover of the Hempstead County Sheriff's Office. The caller claims the recipient has an outstanding warrant, has missed a court appearance, or owes money and demands immediate payment or personal information.

THIS IS A SCAM.
The Hempstead County Sheriff's Office will never call you to demand payment, request gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfers, or other forms of immediate payment to avoid arrest. We also will not ask for your personal or financial information over the telephone in this manner.
If you receive one of these calls:
• Hang up immediately.
• Do not provide any personal or financial information.
• Do not send money or make any type of payment.
• If you have any questions about the legitimacy of a call, contact the Hempstead County Sheriff's Office directly using our official phone number.
Please share this information with your family, friends, and neighbors, especially elderly residents who are often targeted by these scams.

Working together, we can help prevent others from becoming victims of fraud.

Sheriff James A. Singleton
Hempstead County Sheriff's Office

06/08/2026

On May 28, 2026, Deputy B. Schroader received a call from police dispatcher regarding a breaking or entering located at 5299 Highway 67 West, also referred to as Red River Truck Stop, in Fulton, Hempstead County, Arkansas.

Hempstead County Deputies began an investigation and was able to obtain a warrant for Commercial Burglary 37-year-old Candy Collier of Fulton who was arrested on the warrant by Deputy Brody Pennington Collier is being held at the HCDF in Hope pending a first court appearance.

Deputies were able to return several items taken in the burglary.

06/04/2026

HEMPSTEAD COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE
Office of Sheriff James A. Singleton

Letter of Congratulations

Dear Deputy Pennington and Deputy Whitney,

On behalf of the men and women of the Hempstead County Sheriff's Office and Detention Center, I extend my sincere congratulations to both of you on being recognized by KTAL News and the Chevy Dealers' "Behind the Badge" program.

This prestigious recognition is a testament to your professionalism, dedication, and unwavering commitment to serving the citizens of Hempstead County. Law enforcement is a profession that often requires sacrifice, courage, and selfless service, and it is gratifying to see your efforts acknowledged by the community and the media.

Your daily commitment to protecting the public, assisting those in need, and upholding the highest standards of our profession reflects great credit upon yourselves, the Hempstead County Sheriff's Office, and the citizens we proudly serve. The recognition you have received is well deserved and serves as an example of the positive impact law enforcement officers make in their communities every day.

Thank you for your outstanding service, dedication, and professionalism. We are proud to have you as members of our team and grateful for the difference you make in the lives of those we serve.

Congratulations on this well-earned honor, and best wishes for continued success in your careers.

Respectfully,

James A. Singleton
Sheriff
Hempstead County Sheriff's Office

06/01/2026

LETTER OF SUPPORT FOR THE HEMPSTEAD COUNTY HOSPITAL TAX

To the Citizens of Hempstead County:

As Sheriff of Hempstead County, I have dedicated my career to protecting the lives and safety of the citizens we serve. Public safety is about more than law enforcement—it is about ensuring that every person in our community has access to critical emergency services when they need them most. For this reason, I strongly support the proposed sales tax dedicated to sustaining and improving our local hospital and its 24-hour emergency services.

Let me begin by saying that I am not a fan of raising taxes. Like many of you, I understand the burden that taxes place on working families, businesses, and individuals. As an elected official, I believe every tax proposal should be carefully scrutinized and supported only when there is a clear and compelling need. In this case, I believe that need exists.

It is also important to remember that this is not a permanent tax. The proposed sales tax contains a sunset provision and will expire after ten years. This gives our community the opportunity to invest in a critical service while ensuring that the tax does not continue indefinitely.

Every day, law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical personnel, and first responders rely on having a fully functioning emergency room available in Hempstead County. When a serious automobile accident occurs, when a child suffers a life-threatening injury, when a heart attack or stroke strikes without warning, every minute matters. The availability of 24-hour emergency medical care can mean the difference between life and death.

Our deputies regularly respond to traffic collisions, violent crimes, medical emergencies, overdoses, and incidents involving vulnerable individuals. In many of these situations, immediate access to emergency medical treatment is essential. If emergency services were unavailable locally, patients would face longer transport times to hospitals outside our county. Those additional miles and precious minutes could significantly impact patient outcomes and place additional strain on our emergency responders.

The hospital is also a critical partner in public safety. It provides medical evaluations for crime victims, emergency treatment for injured deputies and first responders, mental health crisis intervention, and essential healthcare services that contribute to the overall well-being of our community. A strong hospital strengthens the entire public safety network.

As Sheriff, I understand the responsibility of being a good steward of taxpayer dollars. However, I also understand the devastating consequences of not having adequate emergency medical services available when they are needed most. The question we must ask ourselves is simple: What price can we put on a human life? What value do we place on knowing that when our loved ones face a medical emergency, help is available close to home and without unnecessary delay?

Supporting this sales tax is an investment in the future of Hempstead County. It is an investment in our families, our businesses, our first responders, and our quality of life. Communities with reliable healthcare services are stronger, safer, and better positioned for economic growth and development.

As someone who has witnessed tragedy firsthand and has seen the difference that timely emergency medical care can make, I believe preserving 24-hour emergency services in Hempstead County is one of the most important investments we can make. The proposed tax will help ensure that our citizens continue to have access to lifesaving care close to home, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

I respectfully encourage the citizens of Hempstead County to vote in favor of this important initiative. Together, we can help preserve a vital resource that serves every resident of our county and protects the health and safety of our community for generations to come.

Respectfully,
Sheriff James Singleton
Hempstead County

Hempstead County Sheriff

08/28/2026

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