Former Madison County deputy decertified for lying about 911 response

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Newly released documents show that a former Madison County, Arkansas deputy named Timothy Blake Hassell lied about responding to a 911 call in August 2024 that was later linked to a homicide investigation. Hassell was decertified by the Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (CLEST) in February 2026 after an investigation found he did not actually check the area where a caller reported hearing a woman screaming for help. The sheriff's office later discovered the victim in the homicide case may have been the subject of that 911 call just days before her remains were found.

Why it matters

This case highlights the importance of law enforcement officers responding promptly and truthfully to emergency calls, as their actions can have life-or-death consequences. The public's trust in the police force is eroded when officers fail to fulfill their duty to protect and serve, especially in situations that may be linked to a tragic outcome.

The details

According to CLEST documents, Hassell was dispatched to a report of a woman screaming for help in a rural part of Madison County at 12:34 a.m. on Aug. 5, 2024. Dispatch records show the caller said she thought she heard a woman in the woods yelling and at one point heard the woman scream 'Help.' Hassell reportedly radioed dispatch at 1:14 a.m. and told them he had checked the area and did not see or hear anybody. However, a check of the GPS in Hassell's patrol car showed he did not respond to the area where the caller heard the screams. Hassell later admitted to lying about checking the area. On Sept. 5, 2024, the sheriff's office received a report of a missing woman who had not been seen in about a month. Deputies later found human remains in the area where Hassell failed to check the night of the 911 call.

• On Aug. 5, 2024, Hassell was dispatched to a 911 call about a woman screaming for help at 12:34 a.m.
• Hassell radioed dispatch at 1:14 a.m. and claimed he had checked the area but found nothing.
• On Sept. 5, 2024, the sheriff's office received a report of a missing woman who had not been seen in about a month.
• On Sept. 9, 2024, deputies found human remains in the area where Hassell failed to respond to the 911 call.
• On Feb. 10, 2026, CLEST voted to decertify former deputy Timothy Blake Hassell.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Timothy Blake Hassell to regain his law enforcement certification.