2 jailers arrested; 1 resigns, other on leave

BENTONVILLE — Two jailers with the Benton County sheriff’s office were arrested last week in separate incidents.

Christopher Pifer-Foster of Pea Ridge was arrested in a case involving domestic battery and endangering the welfare of a minor regarding his 4-year-old son, according to a probable-cause affidavit. Prosecutors haven’t filed formal charges against Pifer-Foster.

Lt. Shannon Jenkins, a sheriff’s office spokeswoman, confirmed Pifer-Foster was arrested. She said he resigned from the sheriff’s office.

The boy’s mother reported finding bruises on her son and reported it to Pea Ridge police, according to the affidavit. The boy was interviewed at the Children’s Advocacy Center and said his father spanked him with a wooden paddle, according to the affidavit.

Pifer-Foster admitted spanking his son with his hand, but said he didn’t feel the spanking was inappropriate or could have injured his son, according to the affidavit. He said he was angry after finding his son eating doughnuts alone outside the house, according to the affidavit.

Pifer-Foster said he had a paddle hanging on his wall but denied hitting his son with the board, according to the affidavit.

Cady Swindle, another jailer, was arrested by the Arkansas State Police on March 15 in a driving-while-intoxicated case, as well as charges of reckless driving, careless and prohibited driving and inadequate insurance during an accident.

Jenkins said Swindle is on administrative leave pending the results of an internal investigation.

Pifer-Foster and Swindle aren’t certified law enforcement officers, Jenkins said.