Jonesboro Officer Terminated after She and Roommate Both Arrested in Domestic Disturbance

JONESBORO, Ark. – A Bono woman who also works as a police officer in Jonesboro was terminated on Friday, April 12 after being arrested April 3 for misdemeanor battery along with her roommate.

Public Information Specialist Sally Smith with the Jonesboro Police Department confirmed on Friday to NEA Report that Officer Alexis Burns had been terminated for policy violation effective April 12.

Advertisement
Advertisement

The news coverage of the incident began when the Jonesboro Police Department announced one of their officers had been placed on leave pending the investigation into the domestic disturbance on social media shortly before 5 PM on April 3. At the time, Smith confirmed to NEA Report that Alexis Brianna Burns, 27, of Bono, was the officer referenced.

The criminal investigation was not being conducted by Jonesboro. However, JPD conducted an internal investigation.

The Full Report

The incident report was released by the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office on Thursday to NEA Report. According to the report, deputies were dispatched to the address on County Road 118 in Bono for a domestic disturbance in progress. The first 911 call was apparently made by the father of Sydney Smith, 28, who is described in the report as a roommate to Burns.

The first 911 call said that Burns, a JPD officer they noted, was threatening to go down in the basement and destroy Smith’s belongings. The call reported a possible fight. A second 911 call advised there was a domestic disturbance at the address. Then, apparently Burns called dispatch telling them she hit the phone out of Smith’s hand and that Smith had hit her in the face.

Deputies arrived at 3:22 PM. Burns was sitting on the front porch with her head in her hands while Smith was standing under the carport away from Burns. The deputy immediately noticed Smith had a large amount of blood on the right side of her face. He approached Burns and detained her. Burns stated that it was her own blood on Smith. The deputy then detained Smith, as well, who requested an ambulance after she said Burns had slammed her head on the floor, causing it to hurt.

According to Smith, the fight started when she told Burns she was going to move out. Burns allegedly grabbed a knife and told Smith she was going downstairs to cut up her stuff. Smith said she tried to Block burns from going downstairs but Burns allegedly pushed Smith against the wall and then threw her phone. Smith alleged Burns slammed the back of her head into the ground. The deputy noticed red marks on Smith’s neck and asked where they came from. Smith said they were from Burn’s hands.

However, Burns claimed she was acting in self-defense. She stated her and Smith were arguing and Burns made the comment she was going down stairs to mess up Smith’s stuff and Smith tried to follow her. Smith had her phone in her hand and Burns said she slapped the phone out of her hands, leading to Smith allegedly hitting Burns in the face. Burns said they went to the ground and Burns got on top of Smith, held her down, and tried to calm her down. A second deputy noticed Burns had a bloody nose and her lips were slightly swollen. . The same deputy noted Smith having blood on her face, “from Burns.” He also noted Smith had red marks around her throat.

Both Smith and Burns were arrested for misdemeanor third degree battery, a Class A misdemeanor  punishable by a maximum fine of $2,500 and/or up to one year in jail.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.