Brad Young Cleveland County Sheriff-Elect

06/21/2026

Cleveland County School District Break-in and Theft Update:

Superintendent Davy King previously reported the theft of a Yamaha four-wheeler from Rison High School, which occurred on May 27, 2026. The Cleveland County Sheriff's Department is pleased to announce that Deputies Dakota Rogers and Andy Reed successfully recovered the stolen four-wheeler during a traffic stop at approximately 3:30 a.m. this morning. Further investigation led to the arrest of Russell 'Keith' Hooks of Rison, who has been charged with breaking or entering and theft, both Class D felonies.

I commend the deputies and investigators for their diligent efforts, demonstrating the dedication and expertise that result from hard work and long hours invested in criminal cases. I highly encourage potential offenders to seek alternate locations for any future criminal activity. The Cleveland County Sheriff's Department will stop at nothing to ensure your county is the safest in the state.

Happy Father's Day!!!
Brad Young

06/19/2026

Good afternoon, and Happy Juneteenth. I hope you've all had a great week. The Cleveland County Sheriff's Department is actively patrolling all areas of the county to ensure a safe and enjoyable holiday. It's been a pleasure interacting with some of you as preparations are ongoing for Juneteenth and Father's Day weekend.

The Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department offers heartfelt thoughts and prayers to those states currently facing severe flooding, recognizing the challenges faced by many families with loved ones in affected areas.

Below, you will find the activity for your Cleveland County Sheriff's Department from 6-13-26 to 6-19-26.

Complaints:
1-Theft of property
2-Criminal mischief
2-Trespassing
1-Domestic disturbance
6-Disturbances
2-Reckless drivers
1-Standby for citizen
2-Suspicious person
4-Suspicious activity
2-Welfare checks
1-Downed tree
2-Fire calls
1-Controlled burns
6-Animal calls
10-Ambulance calls
1-Alarm call
1-Accident investigation
3- Loud music
1-Road blocked
1-Missing person
1-Animal cruelty
1-Child custody
1-Child endangerment
1-Littering

Arrests:
1-Knowingly furnishing alcohol to a minor
1-No driver’s license
1-Careless and probibited driving

Felony arrests:
-Lance Lea of Rison; possession of a controlled substance (M**h) Class D Felony.

-Danny Cupp Jr. of Rison; theft by receiving Class D Felony, theft Class D Felony, and two felony warrants out of Pine Bluff.

Other:
-District court was held on Thursday, June 18, 2026.

-Deputies remain engaged in familiarizing themselves with Cleveland County schools.

Have a great weekend and please be safe!

Brad Young

06/19/2026

Thank you, Hollingsworth Farms for supporting the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department. This is just another example of living in such a great county!

A huge THANK YOU to Brad Young Cleveland County Sheriff-Elect for doing such an amazing job already as the new Cleveland County Sheriff! As a thank you, we sent him with a box of tomatoes, 2 watermelons, and 2 cantaloupes for him and the employees at the Sheriff Office!

Be sure to stop by and see us while the weather is still nice.

06/19/2026

Having recently started my 27th year in law enforcement, I have had the privilege of working under numerous leaders, learning valuable lessons from those who led effectively and those who did not. These experiences have significantly influenced my leadership style. As a leader of the Cleveland County Sheriff's Department, I will always support my deputies, who risk their lives daily, and I am proud of the outstanding work they do for the county. I have consistently pushed them to perform at their best and will continue to do so in the future. Like many roles in law enforcement, their work often goes unrecognized, much like that of an offensive lineman who is noticed only when they fail in their assignment. That being said, there will be cases that take time to solve. Sadly, some may never be resolved. Just today, we solved a theft case that was eight months old. I'm not sure who was happier, the victim or me. This is no different for the CCYS facility. We have responded to calls immediately, increased patrols in the area, conducted numerous interviews, and continue to be hyper-focused on holding those responsible accountable for their actions. However, I know that no matter what, we will never make everyone happy. Nevertheless, I will always be available to the citizens of this county, and I will always keep you informed as much as legally possible because, after all, we work for you.

06/16/2026

In correctional facilities where inmates are treated humanely, they often develop a desire to make amends and become productive members of society. Participating in activities like trash pickup can be an effective way to start a new life.

06/12/2026

Good afternoon, I hope you all have had a great week. I want to begin my weekly report by alerting our businesses in the county that this week, a number of counterfeit bills have been recovered. The Cleveland County Sheriff's Department is asking businesses to exercise caution when accepting cash payments.

The Cleveland County Sheriff's Department conducted proactive compliance checks this week on registered s*x offenders residing in our county, verifying the adherence of approximately twenty individuals to registry requirements. Those found non-compliant face immediate arrest warrants!

I am pleased to report that the Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department received an excellent rating during our annual jail inspection, thanks to the exceptional efforts of Mrs. Erica Rogers Best and her team of dedicated dispatchers/jailers.

Below is your Cleveland County Sheriff’s Departments activity from 6-6-26 to 6-12-26.

Complaints:
2-Accidents
4-Alarm calls
14-Ambulance calls
2-Animal calls
1-Fire calls
1-Downed trees
1-Welfare check
1-Suspicious activity
1-Suspicious vehicle
2-Suspicious person
3-Reckless driver
2-Disturbances
2-Domestic disturbances
1-Harassment
1-Trespassing
1-Theft of property
3-Breaking or entering
1-Illegal dumping
1-Counterfeit money
1-Pursuit

Arrests:
1-Driving on suspended license
1-DWI
1-Reckless driving
1-Possession of a controlled substance
1-Possession of drug paraphernalia
1-No vehicle license
1- No proof of insurance
1-No trailer license
1-Possession of an instrument of crime

Stolen property recovered from a traffic stop:
Ford F-150
CFMoto ATV

Felony arrests:
-Patrick Baber of Kingsland; Possession of a firearm by certain persons Class B Felony, possession of a controlled substance (M**h) Class D Felony, possession of drug paraphernalia Class D Felony, terroristic threatening Class D Felony, and simultaneous possession of drugs, and fi****ms Class Y Felony.

-Johnny Williams of Pine Bluff; two counts of theft by receiving Class C Felony and a Felony bench warrant out of Jefferson County.

-Heath Ludwick of White Hall; two counts of theft by receiving Class C Felony.

Stay safe, cool, and have a great weekend!
Brad Young

06/11/2026

Pursuit Update:

Good evening, a pursuit originating in Jefferson County entered Cleveland County at approximately 8:45 p.m. this evening. The female suspect led deputies through multiple state and county roads within our county. The pursuit ended on US Highway 63 north of Hill Harper Road without incident, resulting in the successful apprehension of the suspect. No injuries🙏🏻

06/05/2026

Good afternoon, I hope you've all had a great week. This week has been particularly difficult for many in our county and the Cleveland Sheriff's Department. Today, we laid to rest Major "Boo" McClellan, a retired deputy who served this county for over 16 years. Boo's commitment to public service spanned more than a decade and a half, leaving a lasting impact. Please keep Boo's family in your thoughts and prayers during this very difficult time.

The Cleveland County Sheriff's Department would like to inform everyone that Yaney Street in Rison, which runs from State Highway 35 to Mockingbird Street, will have one-way traffic only from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 6, 2026. This is due to a county bike ride and car show being held at the Pioneer Village.

As the temperature increases, we encourage you to notify us if you have friends or family members, particularly elderly individuals, who may require our attention.

Below you will find the activity for your Cleveland County Sheriff’s Department from May 30, 2026, to June 5, 2026.

Complaints:
10-Ambulance calls
5-Tree Down
3-Welfare check
3-Reckless driver
1-Credit card fraud
2-Disturbance
5-Accident investigations
1-Animal call
1-Vandalism
2-Trespassing
2-Control burn
1-Alarm
1-Burglary
2-Deaths
1-Fire calls
3-Scam investigations
2-Suspicious vehicle
1-Theft of property

Arrests:
1-Disorderly conduct
1-Public intoxication
1-DWI

Felony arrests:
Kerie Wainwright of Rison; Terroristic Threatening Class D Felony.

Other:
-Formal charges were filed with the prosecutor this week on a juvenile subject. The subject was charged as an adult on 39 counts of unlawful distribution of s*xual images or recordings. Although the subject was charged as an adult, state law prohibits disclosing the identification of a juvenile.

-Deputies Reed, Pickering, Croy, and I attended the team football camp held at Rison High School. It was great to see all the tallented young men competing and such a great event held in our county. Fall cannot get here soon enough!

Please be safe and have a great weekend!

Brad Young

06/03/2026

Traffic Alert: We are currently working a single-vehicle crash on Rye Cut Off, where the vehicle collided with a power pole, resulting in downed power lines that are blocking both lanes. Please exercise extreme caution when traveling through the area. C&L crews are on scene working diligently to restore power. Fortunately, there were no reported injuries.🙏🏻

05/31/2026

SCAM ALERT: Please Share

Good afternoon, everyone. We have received reports of a scam involving a caller claiming to be Debbie Young from the Sheriff's Department. Please be advised that Debbie Young is not affiliated with our office. If you are uncertain about a call's authenticity, please hang up and contact the Cleveland County Sheriff's Department directly at 870-325-6222. You may also reach me at 870-814-2283; I'm available 24/7. Your safety is our top priority!

Have a great Sunday, Brad Young.