Oklahoma man jailed in Ark. deputy’s death

TEXARKANA, Ark. (AP) – Authorities say an Oklahoma man has been jailed on a second-degree murder charge in the traffic death of a southwest Arkansas sheriff’s deputy.

Lafayette County Chief Deputy Pete Richardson was killed Monday in a three-vehicle crash near Lewisville. According to the Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office, Richardson was driving Michael Lee Ackart of Tulsa, Okla., to a homeless shelter in Miller County.

Authorities tell Shreveport, La., television station KSLA that investigators believe Ackart reached over and grabbed the steering wheel as Richardson was driving, causing Richardson to swerve into oncoming traffic and crash into a vehicle.

Richardson was pronounced dead at the scene. Ackart was taken to a Texarkana hospital and was later transported to the Miller County jail. Authorities did not know if he had an attorney.