WALDRON (KFSM) - Dale Mann, hired in early 2014 as football coach at Waldron High, is under investigation by law enforcement authorities in Scott County, Waldron Police Chief David Millard said Friday (April 24).
Mann had not been arrested by Friday evening, Millard said. The police chief declined to say what the investigation entails but added Mann resigned from the school district on Friday. Waldron Schools Superintendent Gary Wayman said the school board was expected to approve Mann's resignation letter at a special executive session Monday night (April 27). Mann was listed on the school district website on Saturday (April 25) as the high school's assistant principal. It has since been removed.
5NEWS sent a text message to Mann on Friday and Monday for comment but did not receive a response.
The Scott County Sheriff's Department has asked the Arkansas State Police to assist in the investigation of "sexual solicitation" involving an employee of the Waldron School District, said Bill Sadler, State Police spokesman. Sadler did not have the name of the employee available. Efforts to contact the Scott County sheriff and prosecuting attorney on Friday were unsuccessful.
Mann spent three seasons as an assistant at Texas High in Texarkana before being hired in Waldron.
The Waldron position was the first head coaching job for the 54-year old Mann, who also served as the school's athletic director. Mann was assistant head coach at Van Buren from 2008-11 and spent 16 years as defensive coordinator at Booneville.