Suspect Accused of Tampering Following Arrest for Domestic Assault

PARAGOULD, Ark. — A man accused of a felony aggravated assault charge from a domestic incident in November now faces a new charge for allegedly tampering with a witness.

The new probable cause affidavit released on Dec. 31 by the Paragould Police Department states that earlier in the month, it was brought to the attention of detectives that an alleged victim in a domestic battering case had turned over a letter to the prosecutor’s office stating that her report had been misinterpreted and the suspect should be released.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Detectives investigated and according to the affidavit, learned the defendant had spoken with the victim multiple times. During the monitored conversation, police said the suspect told the alleged victim to write the letter to the prosecutor’s office, even saying what language to use in the letter to get them to drop the charges against him.

Police also noted that further investigation revealed the suspect had been arrested for domestic battering against the same victim the year prior in almost the “exact same circumstances.”

Cody Greer, 33, of Paragould, faces a Class D felony charge of Tampering. Law enforcement contacted Greer and advised him not to have any further communications with witnesses in the case. For that charge, Judge Dan Stidham set additional bail at $10,000 cash-only.

The original incident happened on Nov. 23, when the probable cause affidavit stated that the Paragould Police Department was dispatched to a residence in the city about a domestic altercation. Officers arrived and met with an alleged victim who said she had been in a physical altercation with a male.

Officers were told the male had become angry thinking she was cheating on him and had “choked her out on the bed.” Police observed redness and a scratch on the woman’s neck consistent with being grabbed around the throat, the affidavit stated.

The male defendant, who was intoxicated, corroborated the story about an altercation regarding cheating. However, he insisted he did not strike or choke the victim. He was taken into custody based on the totality of the evidence, the affidavit said, but not interviewed further due to his intoxication.

Greer now faces two Class D felony charges. His bail for the previous charge was also set at $10,000. Jail records show his total requirement is now at $20,000.

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