WASHINGTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — A former Washington County sheriff's deputy has pleaded not guilty to murder and assault charges in connection to a man's death on Dec. 3, 2023.
After an investigation into a fatal traffic pursuit where Stevon Grindstaff allegedly shot and killed a man driving away from him, he was arrested by Arkansas State Police on March 11.
The Washington County Sheriff's Office (WCSO) reported that on the evening of Dec. 3, 2023, Grindstaff tried to pull over a truck driven by Scottie Stacy near Blue Springs Road in Fayetteville, but Stacy reportedly did not stop.
In the ensuing chase, WCSO said Stacy drove through a barbed wire fence into a field before stopping.
WSCO initially said in a statement released on Dec. 7 that when Grindstaff stepped out of his patrol car, Stacy reportedly "rapidly accelerated in reverse toward the deputy" before hitting the patrol car, which is when they said Grindstaff shot and killed him.
However, according to a now-sealed arrest affidavit, the sheriff's office received Grindstaff's in-car and body camera footage the day after the incident that contradicts the fact that Stacy had driven in reverse, threatening Grindstaff.
"Recordings show Deputy Grindstaff placing his patrol vehicle's driver-side front bumper at the passenger-side back bumper of Stacy's vehicle as the vehicles stop," the affidavit said.
In the recording, Grindstaff is reportedly seen exiting his patrol vehicle and walking behind and around Stacy's vehicle until he arrives at the driver's side. As Grindstaff became even with Stacy's driver's side door, Stacy reportedly began driving away from him, the affidavit said.
The affidavit said Grindstaff discharged his firearm "multiple times at the vehicle" as it drove away from him. Grindstaff struck Stacy with "multiple rounds," and he died at the scene.
A day after the arrest affidavit was made public, Washington County Judge Joanna Taylor issued two orders in Grindstaff's case. She ordered Grindstaff's arrest affidavit be sealed, and she also issued a gag order in the case to give Grindstaff a "fair and impartial trial," which forbids any person connected to the case to speak publicly about it.
Grindstaff is set to appear in court on May 28, 2024.
Report on Grindstaff's arrest:
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