Pair killed in Interstate 40 crash

Investigation Discovery to probe 1997 death of police officer

WHITE COUNTY— Higginson Mayor Randall Homsley confirmed to earlier this week that a producer from Investigation Discovery spent two weeks in Higginson gathering information and filming for their show, 'Murder in the Heartland.' The show will focus on the March 14, 1997 murder of Higginson police officer Daniel Longstreet who lived in Searcy and was shot multiple times and found dead in his car by convenience store owner Jerry Riley.

The location was in the 300 block of Walker Rd. At the time of his death, Longstreet was 39 years old.

According to information in the case, a person in a nearby residence heard three gunshots at 5:20 a.m.

on March 14, 1997.

Longstreet was reportedly found seated in the driver's seat of his police car with the passenger side window 'shot out.' The pronouncement of Longstreet's death was reportedly at 6:15 a.m.

Homsley was a Higginson police officer at the time and wrote the complaint report, homicide, officer down. Homsley said in his report that he was on his way to take his wife to work and heard on his portable police radio the White County Sheriff's office dispatcher calling for any state unit in the Higginson area. He was informed that an officer was down at the four-way stop of Walker Rd and HWY. 11. In his report, Homsley said when he arrived at Longstreet's police unit, there were two individuals standing on the driver side of the vehicle with the door open. As he moved around to the driver's door, that one of the individuals had Officer Longstreet;s head in her hands. Homsley in his report he asked the individual to back away as he check for vital signs, which he found none. He then radioed dispatch to send Pro-Med and they advised Pro-Med was already enroute. Homsley said he continued to support Longstreet's body until Pro-Med arrived. Pro-Med, a state and a county unit did arrive on scene and Homsley assumed the duty of keeping individuals away from he crime scene.

According to a press release, three days later on March 17, 1997, White County Deputies along with officers of the Arkansas State Police and officers of the Higginson Police Department arrested a 17 year-old Searcy youth and intended to file formal charges of Capital Murder on the youth on March 18, 1997. Officers also intended to charge his 18 year-old wife with hindering apprehension and set a bond of $200,000 for her. Formal charges for her were scheduled for March 18, 1997.

Jess Fulgham was charged with capital murder and Kristie Fulgham was charged with hindering apprehension.

A other press release, included information that Longstreet was married and had three children.

On the morning of his death, Longstreet's time card indicated he checked in for work at 3:25 a.m. He reportedly shined his spotlight on Hazel Riley who was working at a cafe southbound on HWY 11 at 4:35 a.m. At 4:41 a.m., Longstreet made a registration check through White County. At 4:45 a.m. a witness saw Longstreet parked on a concrete pad. Between 5:12 a.m. and 5:20 a.m.

numerous witnesses pin pointed hearing three gunshots. A 911 call at 5:31 a.m. indicated that Longstreet had been shot.

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RUSSELLVILLE — Russellville Fire Department responded to a multi-vehicle accident with reported hazardous materials at the 72 mile marker on Interstate 40 near Knoxville at approximately 4:20 a.m. Wednesday.

According to an RFD spokesman, upon arrival, firefighters confirmed a working fire involving multiple tractor-trailers.

Firefighters utilized mutual- aid tankers and water

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shuttle operations.

There were no reported tankers carrying hazardous materials, however one of the involved trucks was transporting household cleaning supplies.

RFD units Hazmat1, E3 and B1, under the command of Acting Battalion Chief Jeremy Wilmoth, responded to the accident.

Two people died in one of the vehicles, according to state authorities, and their identities were not released pending notification of next of kin.

Multiple agencies including the London Fire Department, Crow Mountain Fire Department, Arkansas State Police, Arkansas Highway Patrol, Pope County Office of Emergency Management along with additional local law enforcement assisted in the mitigation efforts.

Russellville Fire units returned to service at 7:46 a.m. Traffic control and cleanup operations were still underway Wednesday afternoon, although the fire was extinguished and there was no threat of a hazmat release, an RFD spokesman said.

At approximately 2:30 a.m., another accident was reported about two miles to the west. That accident was cleared before the mile marker 72 accident, authorities

said.

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Alzheimer’s Arkansas will host a Virtual Walk of Love on Sept. 19. The 15th annual Faulkner County Alzheimer’s Walk will be from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday. However, due to the pandemic this year’s will be done virtually.

To view this year’s festivities join Alzheimer’s Arkansas on its facebook page, or www.alzark.org/walk.

Everyone is encouraged to register their team, and fundraise until Saturday. To register or donate to your favorite team, follow the website above. There will still be awards for top fundraising teams. The difference will be instead of the Walk being just for Faulkner County, this one will be statewide.

This year is especially difficult on caregivers because so may of our grants have already been given out. The need is greater, however, because of COVID-19 the fundraisers have not been able to happen. We are asking everyone to donate what they can.