LOCAL NEWS

(Arkansas Democrat - Gazette) Agents with Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin's office on Tuesday arrested a former El Dorado mayor after authorities say she stole money from a nonprofit she used to work with, a news release states.

Veronica Creer, who was elected in 2018 and left office at the end of 2022, faces a felony theft of property charge after authorities say she pulled $23,544 from the account of El Dorado Crime Stoppers in October 2023, the release states.

Creer took the money, which was the entire balance of the nonprofit's account, and put it in an account for another nonprofit, Parents United Against Youth Violence, a few months later, authorities say.

The former mayor previously served on the board for the crime stoppers nonprofit, but had not been active on the board since 2016, the release states. Creer was still listed as a signatory on the nonprofit's bank account, however.

"Her decision to withdraw the money and direct it to a different organization was not approved by anyone but her," Griffin said in the release.

El Dorado police learned of Creer's actions and notified 13th Judicial District Prosecutor Jeff Rogers, who asked Griffin's agents to investigate, the release states.

"I appreciate the work done on this case by my office and the El Dorado Police Department, and the cooperation of Prosecuting Attorney Rogers," Griffin said in the statement. "We are all equal under the law, and I will continue to enforce the law."