Perry County locals react to chief deputy’s DWI arrest

MORRILTON, Ark. – A drunk driving arrest in Morrilton is making headlines in Perry County.

Perry County Chief Deputy Edwin Johnson resigned from his position Monday after being arrested for suspicion of DWI this weekend.

Morrilton police confirmed that Perry County Sheriff Ricky Don Jones was in the car with Edwin Johnson when he was pulled over. Jones did not include his involvement in a statement released Tuesday afternoon.

People living in Perry County say they’ve felt safe under the sheriff who entered office in 2023, but this news is not what they want to see.

Courtney Summers has two daughters she worries about while driving because she says people often drive back in from Conway County intoxicated because Perry County is dry.

“They preach to you drive safely, don’t drive drunk, don’t drive hungover, anything like that, and then they go and do the same thing, and they could hurt somebody and get away with it because they are an authority,” Summers said.

Janie Moore also lives in Perry County. She said she hates for this to be the news coming out of the place she’s called home for 50 years.

“It’s a very small county. You have to understand, and if you know somebody, if you get pulled over for speeding or whatever if you know that person, you have a connection with them, then it’s easier for somebody to look the other way,” Moore said.

She is pleased that the Morrilton police officer showed the deputy no one is above the law.

“He (Johnson) is supposed to be an example to everyone, and he’s an example. A bad example,” Moore said.

The Conway County Prosecuting Attorney’s office said when they receive the case file they will review it to determine if formal charges will follow Johnson’s arrest.

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