Saline County Sheriff’s Race – Sexual Harassment Doesn’t Fit Well With Election Efforts.
Mar 8, 2026
On January 26th, I brought you the story on a Sexual Harassment complaint brought by Deputy Raelyn Fashank.
The facts showed that Chief Deputy Dustin Roberston failed to properly investigate the complaint and violated five Department Policies in the process.
On January 30th I then broke the story of vulgar text messages between LT Eric Bell and other Deputies about Fashank. On February 1st, I followed that with a full article concerning those text messages.
In that article I detailed my interview with Sheriff Rodney Wright on the matter.
Wright told me that he had met with County Judge Matt Brumley and requested him to have County Human Resources Director, Stacy Peterson, initiate and conduct an investigation into the matter.
He stated Brumley granted that request.
He went on to say that he felt with all things considered that it would be better for Peterson to handle it instead of his Office to avoid any questions of bias.
Now let me be clear.
By Wright requesting and Brumley approving that request for the County HR Director to handle the investigation does not hand the ball of responsibility off to Brumley….Not at all.
Brumley is the County Judge….He is not the Sheriff and has no authority over the Sheriff Office.
This is 100% Wright’s and Roberston’s problem.
In late February I followed up to see where the investigation was at.
On February 23rd, through an FOI request, the County confirmed that Peterson is conducting the investigation but that she is not alone.
Saline County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) Captain Joseph Shamlin is investigating the matter with her.
So, what happened with the Sheriff’s Office staying out of it to avoid questions of bias ?….That lasted all of about 5 seconds.
Now if that doesn’t raise a Red Flag of concern with you then hold what cha got…..What I’m about to tell you will.
Through that FOI request the County also confirmed that so far, no one has been interviewed in the investigation….No one.
Not Bell nor any of the other Deputies in that text thread….Not even the victim Deputy Raelyn Fashank.
Sources within the SCSO have confirmed that as of yesterday that is still the case.
This “so called” investigation was confirmed initiated on February 1st by Sheriff Wright and thirty-five days into it no one has been interviewed ???
Now I began investigating matters in the SCSO in late December. Through that process Wright and Robertson were very responsive to my FOI requests and easily accessible. When I called, they either answered or called me back and I have spent quite a bit of time on the phone with both men.
Apparently, that is no longer the case.
I have put in multiple calls and text messages to Wright and Robertson to ask about Shamlin being assigned to the investigation and the lack of interviews.
What have I gotten in response ?….Crickets.
But why ?
I mean this really is simple math.
The text messages are what they are and clearly violate not only SCSO Policy but County Ordinance 2021-02 dealing with Sexual Harassment as well.
This investigation could have been conducted and finished in eight hours’ time….Yet the records show that there is an investigation in name only.
We literally have an investigation with no investigation….A ghost investigation.
Does the run-off race for Sheriff between Robertson and candidate Richard Friend come into play ?
Was the announcement of an investigation just a stall tactic to run cover until after the Sheriff’s election ?
I mean clear evidence of Sexual Harassment does not fit well with election efforts….Right ?
At this point these are legitimate questions for Wright and Robertson.
If the answer is no to both questions, then what is the reasoning for this ghost investigation ?
If it’s not Politically driven, then what is it ?
The only two people who can answer those questions are Wright and Robertson and right now they ain’t talk’n.
Do they not realize their silence is louder than a marching band at a Friday night football game ?
Maybe they do but think the best play for Robertson’s campaign is not to confirm the obvious.
Well, here’s the thing….Hiding from confirming reality does not change the reality….It only makes Wright and Robertson look worse.
That’s Facts….not Fiction.
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
Recent Comments