August 8, 2025
COTTON PLANT, Ark. — At the request of the Woodruff County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO), Special Agents with the Arkansas State Police (ASP) Criminal Investigation Division (CID) have launched an investigation into an officer-involved shooting that occurred in the early morning hours of Friday, August 8, 2025, in Woodruff County.
At approximately 11:45 p.m. on August 7, WCSO deputies responded to an assault call at a residence on County Road 639. Upon arrival, the suspect, identified as Thomas Dixon, 36, of Woodruff County, fled the scene on foot into a nearby wooded area.
Deputies located one assault victim at the scene, who was transported to Unity Health – White County Medical Center in Searcy for treatment before being transferred to a hospital in Little Rock for further care.
Two hours later, around 2 a.m. on August 8, a WCSO deputy returned to the residence to continue the search for Dixon and ensure the safety of the remaining occupants. Upon arrival, Dixon exited the residence and began walking toward the deputy. The deputy gave multiple verbal commands for Dixon to get on the ground; however, Dixon continued advancing toward the deputy, at which point the deputy discharged his service weapon, striking Dixon.
Survival Flight airlifted Dixon to UAMS, where he remains in critical condition.
CID Special Agents will complete a case file on the incident and present it to the Woodruff County Prosecutor’s Office, which will determine whether the Deputy’s actions were consistent with Arkansas law.