Arkansas town’s former police chief arrested, charged
UPDATE: Jacob Gammel bonded out Tuesday. The town’s acting chief talks about what he knew.
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The former police chief of Wheatley, Arkansas has been arrested, the St. Francis County Sheriff said Monday.
The county’s jail log shows Jacob Gammel, 25, was booked into jail Monday on charges of theft and perjury.
The charges come after after an alleged incident with a convenience store owner in Wheatley.
According to St. Francis County Sheriff Bobby May, Gammel allegedly accepted money from the convenience store owner on a monthly basis in exchange for protection involving gaming machines at the store.
May says the machines are legal, and it was unlawful for Gammel to accept any money. He says the business owner was misinformed of the law.
“He told him the last month that he didn’t have enough money to pay,” May said. “So, then Chief Gammel got an arrest warrant for him on the gaming machines which was falsified. That affidavit was falsified.”
Judge tests positive for cocaine and alcohol; state asks to revoke bond
May said Gammel also allegedly fabricated an affidavit, which is what May says got the state police involved to investigate.
“He didn’t have a search warrant so he just took the money,” May said. “He took the machine and that’s theft.”
Despite Gammel already facing multiple charges such as theft and perjury, May said he wouldn’t be surprised if more charges were filed in the coming days.
“The investigation is not complete so I do anticipate the possibility of more charges,” May said.
Gammel is scheduled to appear before a judge Tuesday, at which point bond will be set.
Wheatley is a town of fewer than 300 about an hour southwest of Memphis, near Brinkley.
For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WREG.com.
