Body Recovered, Man Arrested After Reported Drowning Near Rivervale

RIVERVALE, Ark. — Authorities have identified the man found dead Thursday evening after a reported drowning in Poinsett County.

The Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office said the 911 Communications Center received a report of a possible drowning in Rivervale at approximately 6:04 p.m. June 18.

Poinsett County Search and Rescue, sheriff’s deputies, the Lepanto Police Department and the Lepanto Fire Department responded to the scene. The sheriff’s office said Lepanto firefighters deployed two boats to assist in the search, while deputies used drones in an attempt to locate the missing person.

A short time later, the body of 30-year-old Treyonte Smith was located in the water. He was pronounced dead at the scene.

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As part of standard procedure, Smith’s body is being transported to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory for examination. The sheriff’s office said the investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death remains ongoing.

During the response, authorities said a separate incident occurred involving Smith’s brother, Keltic Smith.

According to the sheriff’s office, first responders were working to recover Treyonte Smith from the scene when Keltric Smith became disruptive and attempted to push past law enforcement into a secured area. During the incident, authorities said Keltric Smith struck a deputy and later damaged a first responder vehicle.

Keltric Smith was taken into custody at the scene and transported for processing. He was charged with second-degree assault and second-degree criminal mischief.

In a statement, the sheriff said the arrest was based on the actions at the scene, not the family’s grief.

“We recognize that the loss of a loved one can bring overwhelming grief, and we have compassion for the deceased’s brother and family. However, the arrest was not made because he was grieving. It resulted from his actions at the scene, including striking a deputy, nearly getting run over, damaging a firefighter’s vehicle by denting the hood with his hands and fists, refusing lawful commands, and placing responders at risk. Although the arrest was unfortunate, it was necessary to protect everyone present and maintain the safety and integrity of an already difficult scene. I fully support the deputies’ decision to take him into custody because his violent actions created a clear safety risk to first responders and others at the scene.”

The Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office extended condolences to Treyonte Smith’s family and friends and thanked the agencies that assisted, including the Lepanto Fire Department, Lepanto Police Department, Marked Tree Fire Department, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, Pafford Ambulance Service and the Poinsett County Coroner’s Office.

Authorities said Smith later apologized to detectives. A judge released him on an OR bond Friday morning.

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