Police officer resigns after indecency charge

A Pea Ridge police officer resigned Wednesday, March 18, after facing an accusation of sexual indecency in Rogers.

Joseph Anthony Haswell, 50, was cited on a misdemeanor count of indecent exposure Tuesday after a salon employee told Rogers police that Haswell exposed himself to her and requested her to wax his genitals during a Jan. 15 appointment at Salon Exclusive, 117 N. Ninth St.

The woman said that “Brazilian” waxes were not done at the salon, but she complied with Haswell’s request.

She reported the incident to Rogers police on Jan. 23. The Jan. 15 appointment, she told police, was to wax Haswell’s back. Police met with Haswell on Feb. 10. He told them the two had discussed personal waxing during a previous appointment. Haswell told police he once owned a salon. Adding waxing would help the salon generate income, he said.

The woman told police Haswell had been a customer at the salon for a year for haircuts. She said she had not agreed to wax his genitals when setting up the appointment.

A misdemeanor warrant for indecent exposure was issued for Haswell Tuesday by Rogers Police.

Haswell was a patrol officer at the Pea Ridge Police Department at the time of the incident. He was hired Dec. 8, 2014.

He submitted his resignation Wednesday, according to Pea Ridge officials.