Cave City under police probe

Inquiry follows allegations of wrongdoing, prosecutor says

CAVE SPRINGS — Arkansas State Police is investigating Cave City administrators amid accusations of wrongdoing, and a state audit of city finances also is underway.

Benton County Prosecuting Attorney Nathan Smith wrote a letter to Col. Bill Bryant, director of Arkansas State Police, on Feb. 10, and asked that State Police launch an investigation.

“Numerous citizens have contacted my office making various allegations of criminal wrongdoing by elected officials and city employees of Cave Springs,” Smith said in the letter. “After reviewing this information, I have determined that a formal investigation is required to determine the validity of these allegations.”

Smith said Wednesday that he could not comment on the investigation nor describe the allegations.

“I always approach every issue the same, if there’s an issue of criminal wrongdoing that needs to be investigated, then I request an investigation,” Smith said. “The allegations have to involve the potential commission of some crime. It doesn’t mean it happened. An investigation is proof of nothing. Everyone is innocent until they are proven guilty.”

Mayor Travis Lee said he has been interviewed by State Police and he thinks the investigation is about him.

“I don’t want to speculate, because I’ve never met Mr. Smith, [but] he’s probably heard so many things about me that he wants to get them cleared up, and once he gets them cleared up he can move onto other stuff,” Lee said.

Lee said there has been no wrongdoing on his part.

“I can say with 100 percent certainty that none of the allegations are true and are just rumor and gossip,” Lee said.

Alderman Mary Ann Winters, who has accused Lee of misspending city money, said she also has been interviewed by State Police, but had no comment about the investigation.

Lee has answered Winters’ accusations of misspending by saying all his spending initiatives were City Council-approved and that he welcomes an audit of city finances.

Arkansas Legislative Audit, located in Little Rock, is performing a regularly scheduled, routine audit on the city for the years 2015 and 2016, said Marti Steel, deputy legislative auditor for Legislative Audit.

The audit started in early February and the field work phase is nearly finished. The findings still must go through multiple review processes within Legislative Audit before being released, Steel said.

Smith mentioned the audit in his letter to Bryant.

“I am confident that many of the issues of concern will be examined during the audit,” Smith said in the letter. “If the employees of legislative audit are agreeable, I believe it would be wise to utilize their expertise regarding the financial activities of Cave Springs during your investigation.”

Steel said she could not comment on whether State Police had contacted her agency. However, Smith said he thinks State Police has spoken to Legislative Audit.

Lee said State Police has interviewed many city employees and he thinks a “couple” of City Council members. Alderman Larry Fletcher said he has not been interviewed.

Liz Chapman, public information officer for State Police, said she cannot comment on the status of the investigation. The investigation has been ongoing for several weeks and should be wrapped up in the “near future,” Smith said.

“When the investigation is complete, we will lay out a full accounting of what they have done and what they have found,” Smith said.

Angie Caruthers, a Cave Springs resident, said she is disappointed in city officials.

“It’s disappointing to me that elected officials are so ill-prepared to do the jobs that they are elected for,” she said.

Caruthers said she is considering running for an elected city position.