SPRINGDALE (KFSM)- The Springdale city attorney released a statement Thursday (June 4) regarding the disclosure of a Springdale Police Department incident report related to sexual molestation accusations made against Josh Duggar of “19 Kids & Counting.”
In Touch Weekly published the redacted 2006 incident report on May 21 prompting a response from Josh Duggar and his wife, Anna, as well as Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar. Josh Duggar also resigned from his position and the Washington D.C.-based Family Council following the publication of the report.
On Thursday, Springdale City Attorney Ernest Cate released the following statement:
“On 5/20/15, in full compliance with Arkansas Law, the Springdale Police Department responded to a records request under the Arkansas Freedom of Information Act. The requested record was not sealed or expunged, and at the time the report was filed, the person listed in the report was an adult. Any names of minors included in the report, as well as pronouns, were redacted from the report by the Springdale Police Department in compliance with Arkansas law prior to release.”
On May 21, Washington County Juvenile Judge Stacey Zimmerman issued a court order that the police report be destroyed and expunged from the public record to protect the identify of a minor sex-crime victim.
In Touch also obtained an incident report from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office regarding the allegations made in the Springdale Police Department report and published it on June 3.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office released a statement the same day addressing why the report was released.
