March 7, 2025
TWIN GROVES, Ark.— The Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office (FCSO) has requested the Arkansas State Police (ASP) Criminal Investigation Division (CID) to investigate an officer-involved shooting involving the K-9 team from the Arkansas Department of Corrections (DOC).
On Thursday, March 6, 2025, the FCSO issued a BOLO for Joseph Blair, 41, of Faulkner County. Blair was an absconder from the DOC and was considered armed and dangerous. The FCSO and U.S. Marshals tracked Blair throughout the day.
At around 6:30 p.m., the DOC K-9 team located Blair, who was armed with a firearm, in a wooded area near the Solomon Grove Baptist Church in Faulkner County. DOC officers fired at Blair, fatally striking him. The Faulkner County Coroner pronounced Blair deceased at approximately 8:30 p.m.
The deceased will be transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab to determine the manner and cause of death.
ASP CID agents will prepare a case file to present to the Faulkner County Prosecutor, who will determine whether deadly force was consistent with Arkansas law.
The investigation is ongoing.