Deputy suspended for ramming truck into gate

GARLAND COUNTY, AR - No more gate -- no pay for a month. That's the decision Pulaski County Sheriff Doc Holladay passed down on suspended Lt. Corey Lawson.

"Basically he embarrassed the sheriff's department, he embarrassed me, he embarrassed himself," said Holladay.

According to a Garland County Sheriff's Office report -- Lawson became upset with his girlfriend at the Brady Mountain Resort, pushed her, and then rammed his truck into a gate twice, tearing it down. That launched a Pulaski County Sheriff's Office internal investigation.

Holladay says his investigators couldn't find enough evidence to back up the allegations of Lawson pushing his girlfriend, which Holladay says started with the girlfriend herself.

"She has refused to cooperate in any fashion with the investigation," he said, "or to cooperate with Garland County in their investigation."

As a result of the incident, Garland County prosecutors say Lawson could still face criminal charges.

"We will assess the situation at the time," said Holliday. "Certainly it could have an impact on his future with this agency."

Otherwise though, Holladay says he'll welcome Lawson back -- after 160 hours, or four work weeks, without pay.

"He made some mistakes," said Holladay, "and he has to suffer the consequences of those mistakes."

Sheriff Holladay says Lt. Lawson's insurance company reimbursed the Brady Mountain Resort for the damage. Attempts to reach Lawson for comment were not immediately successful.