Jonesboro, AR – (JonesboroRightNow.com) – April 12, 2024 – A Jonesboro police officer was fired today following an investigation after she and her roommate were arrested after a domestic dispute.
Alexis Burns, 27, was arrested on April 3 after Craighead County sheriff’s deputies responded to a call about a domestic assault.
Today, Sally Smith, public information specialist with the Jonesboro Police Department, said “the internal investigation has been completed, and Burns has been terminated for violation of department policy effective today.”
Burns was hired by the department on June 13, 2022, Smith said.
The roommate, Sydney Smith, 28, of Craighead Road 118 in Bono, was also arrested on suspicion of third-degree battery after the altercation with Burns at their residence.
Deputies said Smith’s father called authorities after he became concerned about his daughter’s safety.
According to a report by Deputy Will Tate, when he arrived at the residence, he found Burns sitting on the front porch with her head in her hands, and Smith was standing in the carport away from Burns.
“I observed Ms. Smith face had a large amount of blood on the right side. I approached Ms. Burns and asked her to stand up, then I detained her while I conducted my investigation. As I was placing handcuffs on Ms. Burns, I noticed Ms. Smith walking towards me, I told her to stay where she was and asked if she needed an ambulance.”
“Ms. Burns stated, ‘that’s my blood on her.’ After instructing Ms. Burns to sit down, I walked to Ms. Smith and detained her as well.”
When Tate was putting Smith into handcuffs, he said she asked for an ambulance because she hit her head on the floor.
“Ms. Smith stated that the fight started when she told Ms. Burns that she was moving out. Ms. Burns then grabbed a knife and told Ms. Smith she was going downstairs to cut up her stuff,” Tate wrote. “Ms. Smith said that she tried to block Ms. Burns from going downstairs, Ms. Burns pushed Ms. Smith against the wall then threw Ms. Smith’s phone. Ms. Smith said that Ms. Burns slammed the back of her head onto the ground.”
Tate wrote that he noticed red marks on Smith’s neck and, when asked about them, she said they came from when Burns grabbed her around the neck.
“I asked Ms. Burn’s if she put her hands around Ms. Smith’s neck, Ms. Burn’s said she did because Ms. Smith had punched her in the face. Ms. Burns asked if she was going to jail, I told her that both would be going to jail due to injuries.”
Burns told Tate she was defending herself, and Tate said he couldn’t take anyone’s word about what occurred.
An emergency medical technician checked out Smith and Burns, and both were taken to the Craighead County Detention Center, Tate wrote.
Deputy Christopher Ditto, who was also at the scene, wrote that “When I walked up Tate asked me to speak with Alexis Burns and get her side of what happened. I asked Burns what happened, and she stated that her and Sydney Smith was arguing, and Burns made the comment that she was going to go downstairs and mess Smith’s stuff up, and Smith tried to follow her, Smith had her phone in her hand, and Burns slapped the phone out of Smith’s hands, so Smith started hitting Burns in the face. Burns then stated they went to the ground and Burns got on top of Smith and held her down to calm her down.”
Ditto said Burns had a bloody nose and swollen lips.