A decertification hearing for former Madison County sheriff’s deputy Blake Hassell, accused of failing to respond to an Aug. 5, 2024, 911 call, has been postponed due to administrative delays, according to the Arkansas Department of Public Safety. The Commission on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (CLEST) had scheduled the hearing for Sept. 9 to consider revoking Hassell’s certification after Madison County Sheriff Ronnie Boyd requested it in November.
The 911 call reported a woman screaming for help. Hassell initially claimed he responded but later admitted he had not. Five weeks later, human remains were found and identified as parole officer Taylor Barksdale, whose disappearance sparked a homicide investigation.
Boyd and Hassell’s supervisor, Sgt. Drew Scott, did not follow up on the call. Boyd has said more information will be revealed during the hearing. Barksdale’s case remains unsolved, with no arrests made. Her family continues to press for answers, including the release of the autopsy report.
Hassell resigned from the sheriff’s office in September 2024 in lieu of being fired. He has denied lying about the call and said he believed it was a low-priority situation.
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