Former Sheriff Buck Causey Arrested for Domestic Battery

ROGERS, Ark.

A former Barton County sheriff turned himself in to authorities last week in Rogers, Ark., where he was arrested on suspicion of domestic battery and violating an order of protection.

Buck Causey, 61, was arrested last Thursday at the Rogers, Ark., Police Department on the charges and was booked in to the Benton County Jail in Arkansas. He did not have to pay a fine for his release, a jail officer said.

The Rogers Police Department had issued two warrants for Causey's arrest; the battery reportedly occurred April 4, while the violation of the protection order occurred April 20, Rogers Police Corp. Angel Murphy-Pearce confirmed.

Murphy-Pearce said Causey faces a "level three" battery charge, or a charge of the least severity signifying no serious bodily injury was involved. She could not reveal who filed the order of protection, or a protection-from-abuse order, against Causey.

Causey reported both a Rogers, Ark., address and a Great Bend address, according to the arrest report, Murphy-Pearce said. No place of employment was listed.

He is scheduled to make a court appearance June 2 in Rogers, Ark., District Court for arraignment.

This is not the first time domestic violence allegations have surfaced against Causey.

Barton County sheriff's deputies responding to a 911 call in June 2008 were dispatched to Causey's Great Bend home, after family members of Causey's wife, Linda Causey, called to report concern for her welfare after an alleged domestic violence incident. No arrest was made, however, and no charges were filed.

Although Buck Causey had filed a divorce petition in Reno County against his wife last June, he told The News in July 2008 the petition was "on hold." His attorney, Dan Forker of Hutchinson, had indicated the couple was trying to work things out.

Last month, Causey filed another divorce petition - this time in Barton County - requesting a divorce from his wife of nearly 35 years, citing incompatibility, according to the Great Bend Tribune.

Linda Causey filed a response last week, agreeing to the divorce, the Tribune reported.

Attempts by The News to reach both Buck and Linda Causey were unsuccessful.

Buck Causey previously indicated to The News last summer that he filed the first divorce petition in Reno County to avoid publicity.

Last November, Causey was defeated by Independent candidate Greg Armstrong in a hotly contested race for the sheriff's position. While Causey was initially unopposed in the race, Armstrong decided to run after the official filing deadline after reports had surfaced of alleged domestic violence in the Causey home.

Armstrong mounted a successful petition drive, garnering 650 signatures for a spot on the ballot, and then defeated Causey in the election 5,793 to 4,857 votes, or by 936 votes.