Atkins arrested in connection with sexual assault claims

DECATUR — Police in Decatur arrested Mitchell Dee Atkins, 51, of Springdale, on April 21, in connection with two counts of sexual assault in the second degree, a Class B felony.

Atkins is a nurse practitioner at the Decatur MediClinic in Decatur, according to a Decatur Police Department press release, and was arrested at the clinic without incident.

The warrant for Atkins’ arrest was issued after two patients at the Decatur MediClinic alleged that Atkins had touched them inappropriately when giving them a shot, one on Feb. 24 and the second on April 17, according to the affidavit of probable cause.

One female patient alleged that Atkins touched her in the vaginal area with ungloved hands after administering a shot to the buttocks and asked her if that was OK, and the second alleged that he touched her in the anal area after administering a shot. Both allege that he gave the shot with no other medical personnel present.

Atkins acknowledges giving the two patients shots in the buttocks but denies that he touched either patient sexually or asked one if it was OK, according to the affidavit of probable cause. He also acknowledged being alone in the room with both women when he administered the shots.

Bail was set at $25,000, according to the warrant. Atkins was commanded to appear in Benton County Circuit Court at 9 a.m. on June 5.

A “no-contact order” was issued ordering Atkins to have no contact, directly or indirectly, with the two complainants in the case.

According to a release from the Decatur Police Department, “the investigation is still ongoing and the Decatur Police Department asks any further victims to come forward.” According to the release, victims may contact the police department by calling 479-752-3911 or come by the department and “make their complaints in person.”

Atkins is no longer seeing patients at the Medi-Clinic at this time, Michael McCollum, the clinic administrator, said on Thursday, May 4.