State Digest

3 inmates die at Arkansas prison in less than 24 hours

GOULD (AP) — A Department of Correction official says three inmates have died in less than 24 hours at a prison in southeast Arkansas, possibly from drug use.

Spokesman James DePriest said Monday that both state police and the department are investigating to determine the cause of the deaths at Varner and its supermax unit.

The inmates were identified as 34-year-old Edward Morris, who was pronounced dead Sunday at 10:35 a.m., and 38-yearold and Stephen Kantzer and 41-year-old Marlon Miles, who were pronounced dead Monday at 1:30 a.m.

DePriest says it was "hard to believe" the timing of the deaths was coincidental.

DePriest says Kantzer was serving 20 years for drug offenses while Miles and Morris were each serving five years for possession of a weapon by an inmate and domestic battery, respectively.

Arkansas officers cleared in dog's shooting death

HIGGINSON (AP) — Prosecutors have found no criminal conduct concerning an Arkansas police chief who killed a family's pet.

The Daily Citizen reports that a prosecutor issued a letter to the White County Sheriff's Office after reviewing last month's fatal shooting of a Labrador retriever named McCoy. The prosecutor says the shooting is "tragic," but that there's no evidence of criminal conduct by Kensett Police Chief John Pollard.

Police received a call July 9 from the Usery family in Higginson that their dog was being chased by another dog, later identified as McCoy. Police say the dog was shot between the eyes after McCoy reportedly lunged at Pollard, who was trying to calm the dog down.

McCoy's owner, Sarah Meyer, says she's upset the officer shot him instead of calling her family or animal control.

Man with machete sought in fatal stabbing of Oklahoma woman

POCOLA, Okla. (AP) — Law enforcement officers are hunting for a 31-yearold suspect in the fatal stabbing of a woman in eastern Oklahoma, and are warning that the man could still be armed with a machete.

The search is focused on a field near the park where the victim's body was discovered Monday morning in Pocola, near the border with Arkansas. Authorities haven't identified the victim.

Pocola Police investigator Michael Roeder is warning nearby residents to keep their doors locked. Oklahoma Highway Patrol Capt. Troy German says schools have been locked down. Investigators say the man was seen fleeing a home where the stabbing may have occurred with blood on his face and carrying a machete.

Pocola is about 170 miles east of Oklahoma City.