The Shanna Hastings Story Chapter 4 – Termination or Retaliation ?….The Facts.
Audio Recordings Tell The Story
Jan 18, 2026
This is the 4th in a series investigating the wrongful termination of Bryant PD Detective Shanna Hastings….and yes I said wrongful.
She was fired by Bryant Mayor Chris Treat at the recommendation of Chief Carl Minden.
The recommendation stated that Hastings knowingly and purposely disseminated internal investigation information after being directed not to do so which violates Standards of Conduct #16 Insubordination and #17 Knowing, Observing, and Obeying All Directives.
But was this a legitimate termination or retaliation against a Whistle Blower, Hastings, for bringing concerns about Patrol Captain Nathan Johnston ?
In the last article on January 11th, The Shanna Hastings Story Chapter 3, I presented facts that showed Hastings’ concerns about Johnston to be legitimate.
In today’s article I’m going to show that the Administrative Inquiry, (AI), investigating the concerns about Johnston was actually used to try and intimidate and find a reason to fire Hastings.
Hastings was interviewed three times during the AI by Sgt. Nick Dean….Tell ya what…. let’s change interviewed to interrogated….Yeah that’s much more accurate.
The first interrogation took place on the morning of July 10th of 2025 at 8:33am and lasted 8 minutes and 52 seconds.
NOTE : All three interview recordings are attached at the end of the article, and you Will want to listen to all three.
From the start of the first meeting with Dean, it became clear this wasn’t an investigation into Johnston….it was an investigation into Hastings.
That pattern only intensified through the end of the third and final meeting.
In the first meeting Dean questioned Hastings as to whether she had proof of allegations of Johnston violating Policies. Hastings answered yes, providing instances that have been well-documented in the last article.
The second meeting with Dean was later that day at 4:21pm lasting 30 minutes and 54 seconds, where the focus changed from allegations against Johnston to questions about the investigation Hastings led into the stabbing incident that happened at Burks Brothers Bar on June 28th, 2025.
I detailed that incident in my article last month on December 21st titled “Is A Bar In Bryant A Front For The Bandidos ?”
Dean began that meeting by asking questions to Hastings about a meeting she had with Saline County Prosecutor Chris Walton the day before on July 9th about the stabbing case and why Johnston was mentioned in that case file.
Hastings explained why Johnston’s name was in the case file and she was letting Walton know that he would see Johnston in it….I call that prudent.
She stated Walton made the comment that it’s obvious Johnston has knowledge of what is going on over there meaning the Bar….I’d say obvious is an understatement.
Dean then turned his focus to literally trying to defend the Bar and the Bandidos, peppering Hastings with questions about whether there was any proof of criminal activity going on at the bar other than Bandidos owning it and being there ?
I wonder if Dean would have asked those questions if it had been a detail shop owned by known drug dealers or a restaurant owned by the mafia ?
Dean stated that Assistant Chief J.W. Plouch had wanted him to ask Hastings…are you ready for this ?…. “Is it illegal to be a Bandido ?”
Hastings answer was no, and why ?….Because it’s not.
It’s also not illegal to be a member of a drug cartel, the mafia or ISIS for that matter, but I wouldn’t think Clouch or Minden would want their Officers fraternizing with the likes….As I pointed out in the last article, that is against Bryant PD Policy to do so.
Yet Clouch is defending Johnston and the Bandidos ???
I called Plouch and Dean both to get a statement on the issue and both said they could not comment on it which is understandable….and convenient.
Dean spent the rest of the meeting questioning Hastings about conversations she had with Sgt. Michael Peery concerning Johnston’s behavior.
As I included in the last article, Peery had informed Hastings that Johnston was a liaison between the PD and the Bandidos.
Dean’s questions were all made in a critical fashion of Hastings, not to get facts about Johnston but to find fault in her.
When you listen to the recording, it’s easy the hear that Dean was clearly aggressive and intimidating with his line of questioning at Hastings.
What is also clear is that Hastings realized very early in the meeting that the AI was not about Johnston’s actions….It was designed to target her.
The intensity of that targeting went into overdrive during meeting three which took place on July 15th, 2025, at 1:58 pm lasting forty-four minutes and fifty seconds….and it had fireworks.
Dean started by questioning Hastings on why she would hand deliver a 2nd Degree Battery case to the prosecutor and meet with him about it ?
Hastings explained that it was because considering the incident involved Bandidos she wanted a gang enhancement aspect.
Dean then began firing questions at Hastings about why Johnston was included in the stabbing case and if she had spoken with Walton about Johnston ?….Questions that had already been asked and thoroughly answered and explained by her in the second meeting.
He then continued the assault on Hastings with a barrage of questions that were criticizing her entire investigation of the stabbing incident.
The questions he was asking had nothing to do with Johnston’s behavior and were clearly designed to intimidate and get under Hastings’ skin.
She was forced to defend her investigation and the steps she took and she did a hell of a job of doing that.
Dean then switched gears in the assault with an onslaught of questions that were actually asked not only in defense of Johnston but the Bandido outlaw motorcycle gang as well….I kid you not.
At the 33:34 mark, Hastings fired back at Dean going on offense stating –
“It’s so frustrating because I feel like I am being put on trial to prove a case when I brought forth a fucking concern.
A concern that I think is very valid, knowing that he affiliates with. And we’re supposed to be held at the standard and him as a captain to be held even higher, but it’s okay.
Like I said, if I go join the fucking Bandidos, is it going to be okay for me to keep my job?
But what I’m saying is it’s the principle of all of it. We’re told if there’s something that doesn’t seem right or that you think could be going on, to say something.
And I feel like I get punished for fucking saying something.
That’s the problem.
This whole thing has been turned around against me like I’ve been doing something wrong.
I brought forth a concern.
Not an allegation, a fucking concern that there was more to this that need to be looked into.
And I’m looked at like, I need to prove a fucking case.”
That put Dean on his heels who then literally began apologizing for acting as Minden’s henchman….Don’t think Hastings bought it then and don’t think she’s buy’n it now.
So, when all was said and done, the only thing Minden could come up with to terminate Hastings for was claiming she was insubordinate.
His basis for that is because on July 2nd Captain Jenceson Payte advised Hastings not to talk about the matter unless she was questioned during the inquiry.
Minden claims because she discussed Johnston’s behavior with Walton on July 9th, something she was very forthcoming about in the meetings with Dean, that she was insubordinate to Payte and should be terminated.
It was part of her investigation file so how in the Hell could she not talk about it with the Prosecutor to make him aware of every aspect of the case that he was going to Prosecute ?
Insubordination ???….Minden and Treat are clutching at straws with that and it’s going to cost the taxpayers of Bryant a lot of money.
Bottom line is Hastings followed Policy and her Ethics by reporting her concerns about Johnston.
Instead of Minden supporting her for doing so, he targeted her and terminated her.
In short he is standing with Johnston….Jesse Burks….The Bar….and the Bandido Motorcycle Gang.
That’s called Facts….not Fiction.
NOTE : If you don’t listen to all three meetings make sure you at least listen to the third….and grab popcorn. Also stay tuned because in the very near future I will bring you records I have obtained that are very Damning to Johnston.
Meeting 2
Meeting 3
Meeting 1
Professional Bully Fighter I investigate and report on issues around the State of Arkansas with an emphasis on Government. I am strong conservative however I bring Truth and Facts regardless of Party affiliation….My hashtag is #FactsNotFiction
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