Blytheville police officer arrested, fired from force

BLYTHEVILLE — The Arkansas State Police arrested a Blytheville police officer Tuesday after searching his residence and seizing electronic devices and other evidence, according to a state police news release.

David Paul Cross, 25, was fired from the department on Tuesday, as well. He had been a Blytheville police officer for a little more than three years, Police Chief John Fraizer said Wednesday.

Fraizer said all inquiries about the case would be handled by the state police, which is conducting the investigation.

According to the state police, Cross is being charged with distributing, possessing and/or viewing of materials depicting sexually explicit conduct involving a child.

His bond was set at $75,000, and he was transported to the Mississippi County Detention Center, the state police said.

A news release from Sgt.

Robin Haught-Angel, public information officer for the Blytheville police, said, “The Blytheville Police Department was made aware of an incident involving one of our police officers this morning, March 12, 2024. Subsequent to an investigation by the Arkansas State Police, the accused, David Cross, has been arrested for allegedly viewing inappropriate sexual material on the internet.

“Once Blytheville Police Department was made aware of the allegations against and the arrest, Mr. Cross was terminated from his position and is no longer employed with the department. Mr. Cross was employed with the Blytheville Police Department for approximately three years. This is an ongoing investigation through Arkansas State Police and any questions need to be directed toward that agency.”

JONESBORO — Craighead County had more births than deaths between mid-2022 and July 1, 2023, the U.S. Census Bureau reported this week.

That’s significant because 65 of Arkansas’ 75 counties recorded more deaths than births, and statewide, Arkansas had 907 more deaths than births during that time. Despite that, the state is believed to have gained 21,328 people through in-migration from other states and nations, putting the latest estimate at 3,067,732.

The census bureau estimated that Craighead County’s population grew by 1,130 during that 12-month period. Of those new residents, 678 moved in from other states and 61 from other countries.

Births outnumbered deaths by 449. The county’s overall population grew by 1 percent to 113,993 during that year, and 2.5 percent since the official 2020 census. Benton (Bentonville-Rogers), Boone (Harrison), Faulkner (Conway), Lonoke (Cabot), Pope (Russellville), Pulaski (Little Rock), Saline (Benton-Bryant), Sebastian (Fort Smith), and Washington (Fayetteville) counties were

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the other counties that experienced what the census bureau classified as natural growth.

As for other areas in Northeast Arkansas, Greene County’s population was estimated at 46,743, an increase of 335, or 0.7 percent in the past year and 2.5 percent since 2020. Deaths outnumbered births by 36, but 343 people moved into Greene County in the past year’s estimate.

Poinsett County had a population of 22,397, a drop of 56 (0.2 percent) in the past year and 2.5 percent since 2020. Deaths outnumbered births by 106, but 85 moved in, including 35 from other countries.

Lawrence County’s population was estimated at 16,318, up by 124, or 0.8 percent in the past year and 0.6 percent since 2020. Deaths outnumbered births by 47, but 182 moved in, including 9 from other countries.

In Jackson County, the 2023 population was estimated at 16,784, a drop of 130, or 0.8 percent in the past year and 0.1 percent since 2020. Deaths outnumbered births by 95, but 231 moved in, including 7 from other countries.

Randolph County’s 2023 population was estimated at 18,907, an increase of 55 or 0.3 percent in the past year and 1.8 percent since 2020. Deaths outnumbered births by 19, but 105 people moved in, including 32 from foreign countries.

Mississippi County had a population of 38,663, down by 200 or 0.5 percent in the past year and 0.5 percent since 2020. Deaths outnumbered births by 45, and 156 more people moved away than moved in to Mississippi County.

In Clay County, the 2023 estimate was 14,201, down by 70 (0.5 percent) in the past year and 2.4 percent since 2020. Deaths outnumbered births by 85, but 15 more people moved in than moved out of the county.

Cross County had a population of 16,420 as of July 1, 2023 (three months following a catastrophic tornado), a drop of 170 or 1 percent in a year’s time, and 2.4 percent since 2020. Deaths outnumbered births by 50. And, while the population rose among foreign-born residents, the county still had 90 more people who moved out than moved in, according to the census bureau’s statistics.