SALINE COUNTY, Ark. – Court records show a candidate for Saline County sheriff has filed suit against two men and five John Does for defaming him.
Candidate Richard Friend is currently slated for a runoff in the race after receiving 32.9% percent of the Republican primary vote compared to candidate Dusting Robinson’s 37%. Robertson is the current Saline County Chief Deputy.
Saline County teen killed in weekend sledding accident
Both are running for a seat currently held by Sheriff Rodney Wright, who will not be returning to that position and is running for the Arkansas Senate.
Friends suit asserts that Kevin Cooper, Rick Cross, and the five John Does made social media posts, including a 51-minute video, accusing Friend of corruption, theft, abuse of authority, and other crimes, and that these posts were followed by calls to voters urging them to reject his candidacy. It continues that Cooper, who went on to lose his primary bid for Hot Spring County sheriff and the one who made the video…