Locals react to arrest of Augusta mayor

AUGUSTA, Ark. – News of the arrest of Augusta’s mayor quickly spread throughout the town on Thursday.

Arkansas State Police said on Thursday that Augusta mayor Jeff Collins was arrested and charged with one count of theft of property, a class A misdemeanor. He was booked into the Woodruff County Detention Center and released soon after.

The news of the arrest quickly became the talk of the town. Colton Hawks said he grew up in Augusta and has heard and seen many things over the past years.

“It’s not the craziest thing I’ve heard and it’s believable,” Hawks said. “Mayor Collins, he’s not guilty and eventually the truth will prevail. I go to state facilities and tell people they can be set free by God, and they charged me for that. Now that’s what I want printed, that is my statement.”

Some people in Augusta were left in disbelief after hearing about his arrest, like Naomi Payne, who said she’s known Collins for years and the charges filed against him are beneath his character.

“Some of that stuff he was accused of, he didn’t do,” Payne said.

A report from an Arkansas legislative audit alleges there were several improper transactions made starting from the beginning of 2020 to Dec. 31, 2022.

“An issue does not just pop up just out of pure fiction,” Hawks said. “Nobody hates you enough just to start something like that and ruin your character.

Payne said she still supports Collins and noted this is just a bump in the road for him.

“He will make good of this,” Payne said.

State police noted that Collins’ first court date is Oct. 15.

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