An attorney representing 12 local residents, filed an ouster suit to remove Robert Arnold from the office of sheriff. This was done shortly after Federal Magistrate Alistair Newbern ruled that Sheriff Arnold broke the rules of his bond. At that point the sheriff was cuffed and taken to the Grayson Couny Detention Center in Liechfield, Kentucky.

Judge Newbern found probable cause that the sheriff violated his pretrial release conditions through domestic assault, witness tampering and intimidation of his wife. The magistrate gave Arnold the choice of remaining free until the trial by resigning from office.

Prior to the hearing on charges of domestic violence against his wife, Arnold vowed not to resign from office. However, rumors are that he might be considering it now.

Unless he resigns, Robert Arnold will continue to receive the $127,078 annual salery from Rutherford County until the outcome of the federal trial that begins February 7, 2017.

The dozen local citizens indicated that the combination of the federal charges, coupled with his bond being revoked due to domestic violence, along with inability to complete the duties of office, motivated them to move forward with the civil lawsuit. It was filed in Rutherford County Chancery Court by local attorney Michelle Blaylock-Howser.

As you recall, last September Sheriff Arnold along with his uncle John Vanderveer, and former Rutherford County Sheriffs' Chief Administrative Deputy Joe Russell were charged by a grand jury with a 14-count federal indictment.

The charges stem from those three operating a company that made profits by selling e-cigarettes to inmates over whom Arnold was in charge.