Arkansas town’s former police chief arrested, charged

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.

When the business owner was unable to afford the payment one month, Sheriff May says Gammel allegedly took the machines and money from the store without a valid search warrant.

May said Gammel also allegedly fabricated an affidavit, which is what May says got the state police involved to investigate.

May said he wouldn’t be surprised if we see more charges in the coming days and weeks.

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.

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