A Pine Bluff Police officer was fired Thursday after he crashed his police cruiser into Sissy’s Log Cabin on South Camden Road while coming from a police lodge.
Xavier Higgins, 25, was terminated from the police department at noon, according to a statement police information specialist John Worthen read during an afternoon news conference at headquarters. Worthen added Higgins, who had been on the force since June 24, 2024, was off duty at the time of the accident and sustained only minor injuries.
“For that we are truly thankful,” Worthen remarked.
The crash left a large hole at the front of the jewelry store. Contractors were on hand to remove the debris as the store was closed for the day.
Independent reporting for Pine Bluff & Jefferson County since 1879.
Police received an alarm call from Sissy’s at about 1:02 a.m. Thursday, Worthen said. An off-duty officer who had driven minutes behind Higgins reportedly made the call to an on-duty supervisor but did not witness the accident. The vehicle was buried inside Sissy’s at the time police responded but later removed. The vehicle has been ruled a total loss.
The off-duty officers had attended a social event at a police lodge on Target Valley Road in the Watson Chapel area, according to Worthen. He clarified the event was not sponsored by the police department.
Higgins was cited for driving while intoxicated, careless and prohibitive driving, and failure to obey a stop sign, Worthen said. He reportedly registered a blood alcohol level of .17, more than twice the legal limit in Arkansas. A court date has been set for Dec. 4.
Assistant Police Chief Kelven Hadley said Higgins was released after being cited and open containers were found in the cruiser.
“Higgins has apologized, saying he did not mean to create a bad image for the department or the city of Pine Bluff,” Worthen said.
While Higgins had no prior issues related to drinking, Hadley said, he was cited on June 17 for violation of a pursuit policy in an unrelated incident. Higgins had not completed his one-year probation from hire and was placed on further probation as a result.
“From the agency’s standpoint, I’d like to say we don’t condone behavior like this,” Interim Chief Shirley Warrior said. “We take highly our attention in reference to DWIs and speed because we write citations for that.”
Warrior added the department’s hearts “go out” to Sissy’s, which according to Worthen sustained approximately $500,000 in damage from the wreck.
Ben Trevino, regional manager for Sissy’s, said the store would reopen Friday and operate at normal hours (10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays).
“As you can see, we’re making the best of it right now,” Trevino said. “The police department has been very accommodating to us. I’m just so thankful that young man was able to walk away without being injured.”
The jewelry and other goods are locked in a vault and is armed, Trevino said, adding the entire perimeter of the store would be secure by the end of the day. Police units were still gathering information as of 11 a.m., with Mayor Vivian Flowers also viewing the damage.
Trevino added the store doesn’t anticipate a value on damage to any goods at the moment. Some men’s rings that were samplers with no value and some jewelry cases were damaged, he said.
“We’re very blessed,” he said.
A temporary wall would be installed but fencing is not in the plans, Trevino added.
Flowers said she is supporting Sissy’s in any way needed, including increasing patrol, to protect the business and its people.
“I didn’t learn until today that three people have died running into that tree in the front, and that this is not the first time there has been a drive-through accident in this store,” Flowers said. “I’m really thinking, number one, whatever they need as they try to shore up the actual structure of the store, to ensure that there (are) not any theft attempts, and that’s going to be taken care of.”
A 31-year-old man in August 2023 died after striking a large tree just outside Sissy’s. According to police at the time, dispatch had received a call that an intoxicated male drove a Chevrolet Silverado leaving a restaurant in White Hall and, 12 minutes later, police were advised of an accident at South Camden and Faucett roads, in the area of Sissy’s.
“I’m grateful that no one died and no one was seriously injured,” Flowers said of Wednesday night’s crash. “At this point, it’s an insurance matter and it’s a matter to prevent this from happening again as it relates to traffic safety.”
