New details in arrest of former Marked Tree police captain

MARKED TREE, Ark. (KAIT) - New records are showing more about what led to a former Marked Tree police captain and firefighter being arrested for felony theft.

Jackie Ragan was arrested on May 6 for one count of theft of property, Poinsett County Sheriff Kevin Molder told Region 8 News at the time.

According to records filed by the Circuit Court of Sharp County on Friday, July 15, Ragan was charged with two counts of theft of property.

The records said on Nov. 20, 2021, Sharp County deputies got a report about a stolen camper in River Bend Park.

The camper’s owner said she was given the camper by her late boyfriend and quickly spread the word about the disappearance on social media.

The camper was eventually returned in working order, but some items left inside were missing, according to the records.

It was determined Ragan had taken the camper and returned it after it was reported stolen.

On Mar. 5, there was another report of a stolen camper in River Bend Park, and an investigation led deputies to a home in Marked Tree.

Court records said the camper had been brought to the home by Ronnie Simmons, who Ragan told could have a free camper that was “abandoned”.

The records indicate Ragan was on the Property Owners Association board at Riverbend Park.

On Jan. 4, the camper caught on fire and had “substantial damage”. Ragan went to the home on Feb. 6 to remove the license plate from the camper and replace it with “a fictitious Mississippi license plate”.

A trial on the case is set for Oct. 13.

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