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Bauxite mayor cleared in forgery inquiry |
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Tuesday, 16 September 2008 |
Investigation will continue
Bauxite Mayor Gary Duncan did not forge a signature on a petition related to controversial annexation recently, authorities said Monday.
The Arkansas State Police will continue to investigate the matter, Saline County Prosecuting Attorney Ken Casady said.
Authorities were deciding whether Duncan, serving his first term, signed Ricky Hatten’s name to the petition.
It also was determined that Hatten did not sign his own name, Casady said.
The annexation enabled Bauxite to incorporate around 275 acres east of Benton. Several residents in the annexed area opposed the annexation, including Hatten.
“The circumstances regarding who signed Mr. Hatten’s signature on that document are still under investigation,” Casady said.
Casady said that both his office and state police officials decided to make the finding public “to clear (Duncan and Hatten) from any suspicion.”
Anyone with information about this issue should contact the state police, Casady said.
The annexation includes areas along Mount Olive, West Sardis and Alexander roads.
The city plans to extend sewer service to those areas, Duncan said.
The mayor said that when he took the annexation petition to residents, he asked if they were the landowners and did not ask for identification.
“But I knew I didn’t sign anybody’s name,” Duncan said.
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