FORT SMITH, Ark. — A Fort Smith police officer is facing charges after allegedly calling a Greenwood police lieutenant and telling him he was on his way to kill a man while driving his department-issued car, armed with a rifle.
According to the incident report, Greenwood Lieutenant Joey Deer received a call from Fort Smith officer Chris George at around 8:25 p.m. on May 29, 2023. Lt. Deer says George called him on his cell phone and said he was in his "work car" and on his way to Greenwood.
Lieutenant Deer said George "sounded as if [he] was intoxicated" while he spoke to him over the phone.
In the report, Lieutenant Deer said George explained he had his duty belt and rifle, claiming he was on his way to kill a man in Greenwood.
5NEWS spoke with Chad Smith "Smitty" the Greenwood man who George allegedly tried to kill.
"They pinged him within a mile of my house in two different locations. He is actually from Alma, and he was in my town. He actually called a fellow officer buddy and told me he was on his way to kill me and that he would surrender peacefully after he had killed me," Smith recalled.
Deer said that "I pleaded with George to go home and sleep it off, but George was adamant that he was coming to Greenwood to kill this individual."
Lieutenant Deer says he ended the call and alerted authorities of what car George was driving, which was reportedly issued by the Fort Smith Police Department (FSPD).
After speaking with George several times over the phone, Lieutenant Deer said George was planning on killing the man to "protect his family."
Smith recalls that night and said " A Greenwood police officer lives two houses down from me. I was going to say 'I got a funny call, like, nothing serious, I think it's just a bluff,' but as I was walking out to the street, about 15 to 20 cops and deputies all just come flying down my road. They stopped the pulled guns out. I actually woke up the one that I know and I said, well, what's going on? He said, 'Well, it's got nothing to do with you, just get in your house,' and I said, 'Actually, it might have to do with me.'"
Once George learned that Lieutenant Deer had contacted local law enforcement, George reportedly drove back home.
FSPD said in a statement released on June 14 that an arrest warrant was issued for George, who is facing disorderly conduct and terroristic threatening charges.
George turned himself into the Sebastian County Detention Center, FSPD said.
After the department learned about the incident on May 29, FSPD said George was immediately placed on paid administrative leave in accordance with policy during a criminal investigation and his department-issued weapons were taken.
Now that the criminal investigation is over, FSPD confirmed that George will remain on leave until an internal investigation has been completed.
"Our focus will continue to be serving and protecting the community while striving to maintain the principles of accountability and public trust that you have come to expect from us. Thank you for your understanding."
A Statement from Travis Plummer, a Greenwood city attorney reads
"We are lucky to have such a great law enforcement team in Greenwood that responded swiftly and appropriately to the situation, likely subverting a much more serious situation. The Fort Smith PD has also been great to work with throughout the investigation and has been nothing other than cooperative and professional throughout the process."
Throughout the process, Smith was grateful for the support of the Greenwood police department.
"They have put extra protection out for me without me even asking. They follow through with everything. They've been explanatory. The police department needs to be acknowledged for the job they've done," Smith expressed.
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