September 8, 2025

COTTON PLANT, Ark. — The First Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney has determined that a Woodruff County Sheriff’s Office deputy was justified in the use of force during an officer-involved shooting on August 8, 2025.

WCSO Deputies responded late on August 7 to an assault call at a residence on Woodruff County Road 639 near Cotton Plant. One assault victim was transported to Unity Health – White County Medical Center in Searcy and later transferred to a Little Rock hospital for additional treatment.

As deputies worked to locate the suspect and safeguard the remaining occupants, the suspect, identified as Thomas Dixon, 36, of Woodruff County, exited the home and advanced toward a deputy, not complying with commands to get on the ground. The deputy discharged his service weapon when Dixon continued to approach. Dixon was airlifted to UAMS for medical care.

At the request of the Woodruff County Sheriff’s Office, the Arkansas State Police (ASP) Criminal Investigation Division conducted the investigation and submitted its findings to Prosecuting Attorney Todd Murray.

In a September 5, 2025, letter to ASP, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney John Bell wrote: “The suspect had committed a Class B felony battery and fled law enforcement…. He is told, clearly and in no uncertain terms, that he was to stand down or risk being shot. One need not speculate as to exactly what Dixon intended to do as he continued to approach (the deputy) to believe that it was reasonable for (the deputy), in light of the totality of the circumstances, to conclude in that instant that Dixon intended to cause him serious bodily harm as he had to the victim earlier that same night.”