According to Mayor Stuart Nelson, "It aint over" was spray painted onto the side of his pick up truck. (Photo: Petit Jean Headlight)
MORRILTON, Ark. (KTHV) - Morrilton Mayor Stuart Nelson said his new truck was vandalized after a heated city council meeting.
"This was not art," said mayor Nelson.
These were the same words said by Alderman Robert Gunderman at a city board meeting when the city chose a new police chief.
"I didn't mean it (as) a threat. I didn't (say) it for someone to go out and vandalize his property," said Alderman Gunderman.
Nelson said he chose Sonny Stover because he met his criteria and Stover impressed not only him but the Chairman of the Police Committee on the City Council during an interview and met the required criteria to be qualified for the position.
"If I had brought in one of my lieutenants there would have been gnashing of teeth, complaints and misery," said Mayor Nelson.
The mayor says he chose to hire outside the department because he wanted the position filled by a person with fresh perspective to lessen contention.
The final vote for the decision was 5-3, and Gunderman wanted to promote from within the department.
The final vote for the decision was 5-3, and Gunderman wanted to promote from within the department.
"The chief that he appointed, I do know and I do respect, but I felt first off that the gentleman that was in line for the police chief's job has been here for 28 years, has all the criteria, training, experience, respect of the men and also had been doing the job for nearly 7 months already, and my other concern was when you went outside the department on a town our size, it hurt morale," explained Gunderman.
Nelson added that he wondered what the vandal meant by the phrase, and his wife has expressed a concern for her safety.
Alderman Gunderman said he's not responsible for the vandalism, and Mayor Nelson said he believes him.
No one knows for sure who actually vandalized the truck but an investigation is underway. The case was handed over the Arkansas State Police, but its agency will not handle it because the offense is a misdemeanor.