Henry County Director of Emergency Management Services, Bradley W. Wright, was arrested Tuesday February 13th at 6:10PM by Benton County Sheriffs Office on charges of Tampering with a Witness and Harassment – 2nd Degree.
According to the Probable Cause Statement filed with the warrant, Wright has additional charges pending review for felony 1st Degree Harassment within the City of Clinton. Because Wright is an employee of Henry County, these charges were assigned to a special prosecutor in St. Clair County.
The anonymous victim of Wright’s 2nd Degree Harassment and Witness Tampering is a witness in that felony case for which charges are pending review. Wright allegedly visited the witness’s place of business on February 3, 2024, where security cameras recorded audio and video of him instructing the witness to recant her statement, or face charges for false reporting and a civil suit.
Security footage of the incident was shared with Clinton Police Department, and the altercation was summarized within the statement of probable cause. Wright allegedly visited the witness at her place of business with a firearm under his shirt, and informed the victim that he is the Emergency Management Director and a commissioned law enforcement officer. He allegedly told the victim that he was aware of the statement she provided to Clinton Police Department. Regarding the felony harassment case pending review for charges, Wright allegedly told the witness “It didn’t happen” and told the victim “he didn’t care how it happened, the victim could recant the statement verbally or in writing. Wright said he would then not publicize anything or pursue charges for false reporting.”
According to Clinton PD’s Probable Cause Statement, “The victim yelled at Wright and told him he wasn’t going to tell her what [she] heard or didn’t hear.” Wright allegedly responded that “he would give the victim a couple of days to think about it … The victim told Wright to leave.”
Wright did not leave, allegedly asserting that “if the victim didn’t [recant her statement . . .], he would look into every bit of it, mentioning the victim’s previous places where she had lived. [Wright] stated he would look into the victim’s previous names and current businesses. Wright stated it was amazing the resources he had, that he can use in public…and he wanted to make the victim aware.” Wright allegedly told the victim, “it was up to [her] how to proceed further and [he] would like an answer by close of business Monday at 5 pm.”
The Probable Cause Statement from Clinton Police Department concludes, “…Wright presents a threat to the victim. Wright is confirmed to be a commissioned law enforcement officer, for several years. As a law enforcement officer Wright would be aware of the law about tampering with a witness. Wright has shown he can make contact with the victim at any time and admittingly has resources at his disposal to use as a threat to the victim…There is a concern with Wright carrying a firearm concealed while pending felony investigations and making contact with witnesses.”
The probable cause statement also reports that Wright was asked by Clinton Police to make a statement regarding this incident, but he declined.
The felony 1st Degree Harassment charges remain under review by the St. Clair special prosecutor at the time of this publication.
Note: No person or representative from KDKD Community News or from Radford Media Group makes any claim supporting or denying the guilt or innocence of any party mentioned herein, and these persons are considered innocent unless and until proven guilty in a court of law in accordance with their constitutional rights.
