BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Arkansas State Police (ASP) are investigating after a Bentonville police officer shot and killed an assault suspect.
According to a Bentonville Police Department (BPD) press release, officers responded to an assault call on Southwest Castlewood Street at about 6 p.m. Thursday, July 11.
"Officer Omri-Andrew Nutt located the suspect, identified as Nathaniel Mark Crabtree, on Sandrock Road. During the incident, Officer Nutt discharged his weapon, striking Crabtree," according to a release by ASP.
Crabtree, 37, was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died, according to police.
Officer Nutt, who began working for BPD in January 2022, was not injured and has been placed on paid administrative leave, per BPD protocol.
Neighbor Mike Dumaine said he takes a daily walk with his 2 dogs in the otherwise peaceful neighborhood.
"Always been a great neighborhood. I have two dogs, and I've walked them twice a day, every day, for three years, and there's always tons of people outside, tons of kids playing outside. It's normally a safe neighborhood," said Dumaine.
That's why it was a shock when the decision to play golf kept him away from the neighborhood during a shooting.
"I heard it happened at 6:30. We normally leave the house around 6:45, so we definitely would have been out here, probably walking down the street," Dumaine said.
Another neighbor, Abram Parks, had just arrived home from work when his wife heard a gunshot.
"I just assumed it was a kid with a firework, but my wife said she heard yelling outside. I looked out of my window and I saw a man lying on the ground with an officer holding him at gunpoint. He had already been shot, and it didn't appear he was alive anymore," Parks said.
Parks said he got footage of the shooting through his home security system, but he's been advised by police not to share any evidence due to the ongoing investigation. Based on what he saw, Parks believes only one gunshot was fired.
"Loss of life is always unfortunate, no matter the circumstance, but I'm glad the rest of the parties involved are all right," Parks said.
ASP has taken over the ongoing investigation, according to BPD. They plan to submit an investigative file to the Benton County Prosecuting Attorney, who will "determine whether the use of deadly force by Nutt was consistent with Arkansas laws."
Crabtree's body was reportedly transported to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory, where the manner and cause of death will be investigated.
No further details have been released at this time. Stay with 5NEWS for updates.
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