WASHINGTON COUNTY, ARKANSAS, Ark. — Washington County Judge Joanna Taylor issued two orders in former Washington County Sheriff's Office Deputy Stevon Grindstaff's murder case on March 13.
Grindstaff was arrested by Arkansas State Police (ASP) on murder and assault charges on March 12 after a man died during a traffic pursuit in December.
Judge Taylor ordered no pretrial publicity in the case in order to give Grindstaff a “fair and impartial trial.” The no-pretrial publicity order forbids any person connected to the case, whether that be attorneys or investigating officers, to speak publicly about it.
Taylor also ordered Grindstaff's arrest affidavit to be sealed a day after the documents were filed and made public.
The now-sealed affidavit said the driver of the vehicle, Scottie Stacy, drove away from the former deputy before the fatal shooting, refuting WCSO's initial statement on Dec. 7 that he "rapidly accelerated in reverse toward the deputy" before hitting the patrol car which is when Grindstaff shot and killed him.
According to the affidavit, Grindstaff's in-car and body cam footage shows Grindstaff reportedly exiting his patrol vehicle and walking behind and around Stacy's vehicle until he arrived at the driver's side. As Grindstaff became even with Stacy's driver's side door, Stacy reportedly began driving away from him, the affidavit said.
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