Union County jail officer accused of sexual assault

EL DORADO — An officer with the Union County jail has been arrested on four counts of fourth-degree sexual assault, Sheriff Ricky Roberts said Thursday.

Michael A. Vick, Jr., 39, was arrested Wednesday when he reported to work after an investigation into alleged inappropriate behavior with a female inmate at the jail.

Roberts said another jail employee notified Union County sheriff’s office administration early Monday morning — during the Sunday night shift — that he’d seen “inappropriate” behavior between Vick and a female jail inmate. An investigation was launched immediately.

By Tuesday, investigators had a warrant for Vick’s arrest, and when he came into work Wednesday at 5 p.m., he was taken to Robert’s office, where he was fired from his position at the jail and arrested. Vick formerly held the rank of sergeant in his role at the jail.

Arkansas code defines fourth-degree sexual assault — a Class D felony — as sexual contact between someone employed at a city or county jail or state prison and a person incarcerated at that facility. Sexual contact between adults and minors also sometimes falls under the label.

An investigation into the matter is ongoing, and Roberts said that sheriff’s office detectives are in the process of interviewing other inmates housed at the county jail.

He said the female inmate Vick’s charges relate to has been transferred to an Arkansas Department of Corrections facility.

Vick was employed at the county jail from October 2019 until Wednesday. He formerly held a role as a corrections officer in Dallas, as well, Roberts said.