The Alexander Police Department has issued a statement on Tuesday, July 28th, vehemently denying accusations of inappropriate conduct made against its officers on social media following a recent traffic stop. Chief of Police Timothy Preator released the findings of an internal review on July 25, 2026, which included dash and body camera footage that he says clears the officers of any physical misconduct. Read more below.
The incident began when Officer Burgess conducted a traffic stop for a speeding violation. According to a press release from the City of Alexander Police Department, Burgess discovered the driver, identified as Tiara Sells, had a suspended driver’s license and a vehicle registration that had been expired for nearly a year. Burgess called First Recovery Towing for a wrecker and instructed Sells to exit the vehicle.
Police report that Sells initially refused to exit and locked her door. Officer Burgess reached through the window, unlocked the door, and warned Sells she would be removed if she did not step out.
Chief Preator stated that Sells then raised her hands and turned sideways in her seat, prompting Burgess to use strong language to demand she exit the car, at which point she complied.
The traffic stop also revealed that a male passenger in the vehicle had an active warrant out of Kansas for driving on a suspended license.
When Officer Burgess returned to issue the citation, Sells allegedly yanked the ticket out of his hand, ripped it up, and threw it on the ground. Sells picked up the ripped citation only after Burgess advised she would receive an additional citation for littering.
Following the stop, Sells took to the Alexander Police Department’s Facebook page, posting a photo of Officer Burgess and advising women to record interactions with him.
In the public comments, Sells accused Burgess of getting physical, touching her inappropriately, and making derogatory comments.
Sells also sent direct messages to the personal Facebook accounts of Officer Burgess and Officer Robinson, utilizing racially offensive language and calling for Robinson’s firing.
Additionally, Sells claimed the towing company said they did not have her car; however, First Recovery Towing informed the police they only advised her it was outside of normal operating hours for a vehicle release.
In response to the severity of the accusations, Chief Preator stated he reached out to Sells but received no reply. After reviewing the camera footage from all three officers on the scene, Preator concluded that neither Officer Burgess nor Officer Robinson touched Sells inappropriately at any time.
The chief acknowledged that the language used by Burgess during the stop might offend some, but stated it is sometimes necessary depending on the situation.
Preator emphasized that he will not sit back and allow his officers to be publicly slandered with heinous accusations without cause.
The full text of the Press Release from the City of Alexander is after these images from social media:
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- Press Release 1
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- Press Release 2
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- FB Comments 1
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- FB Comments 2
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- FB Comments 3
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- FB Comments 4
Alexander Police Department 15605 Alexander Road Alexander, Arkansas 501-274-4400 / 501-455-5531 (fax) PO Box 610 Alexander, Arkansas 72002 www.cityofalexander.com Chief of Police Timothy Preator
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On 07/25/2026
I, Chief Preator was made aware of public accusations made against officers of the Alexander Police Department. The accusations were made on the Alexander Police Department’s Facebook page in the comment section of a post.
A person by the name of Tiara Sells (per the Facebook comments) posted pictures of Officer Burgess advising the public to be careful and if pulled over by Officer Burgess to immediately start recording. Sells goes on to say that Officer Burgess will not hesitate to get physical or touch you in an inappropriate way and make derogatory comments toward you. Sells also called for the firing of Officer Robinson in the Facebook comments.
Sells then reached out to Officer Burgess on his personal Facebook account as well as reached out to Officer Robinson on his personal Facebook account.
Sells asked Officer Burgess on Facebook “where tf is my car they saying they don’t have it” she then wrote hello five times.
Officer Burgess blocked Sells and did not return any messages.
Sells wrote to Officer Robinson on Facebook and stated “The tow Place you all so kindly provided swears they don’t have our car so thanks to you all we don’t have a car and may lose our jobs not that the coon on you would care. I hope your kid never fucks up and if he do I hope he run into 3 cops like you all. You are no follower of God fr”. Officer Robinson did not respond to Sells and blocked her as well.
I spoke with the tow company in question First Recovery Towing. Representatives from First Recovery advised that they had spoke with Sells and that they advised her it was Saturday outside of normal operating hours, however they will be able to have a person come release the vehicle. Sells was never told her vehicle was not at the location.
Due to the severity of the accusations made I reached out to Sells without reply. I also reviewed all dash and body cameras from all three officers on the scene of the traffic stop.
Officer Burgess conducted the traffic stop on the vehicle in question for the violation of speeding. Officer Burgess determined that Sells had a suspended driver’s license and that the vehicles registration had been expired for almost a year. Officer Burgess called for the next rotation wrecker (First Recovery) due to the suspended driver’s license. Officer Burgess returned to Sells and advised that the vehicle would be towed and that she needed to step out the vehicle. Sells at first refused to exit the vehicle locking the door. Officer Burgess reached through the window and unlocked the door. Officer Burgess opened the car door again, advising Sells to step out the vehicle or she would be removed from the vehicle. Sells raised her hands and turned sideways in her seat. Officer Burgess advised Sells that “he didn’t ask her to raise her hands and to get the fuck out of the damn car.” It was only then that Sells complied and exited the vehicle.
It was also determined that the male passenger in the vehicle had a warrant for his arrest out of the state of Kansas for driving on suspended driver’s license.
Officer Burgess returned to his vehicle and wrote Sells a citation. When Officer Burgess returned to Sells to explain to her about the citation, Sells yanked the citation out of Officer Burgess’ hand. Sells then ripped the citation and threw it on the ground. Officer Burgess advised Sells to pick up the ripped citation or she would receive a citation for littering and she complied. The traffic stop was concluded without further incident.
At no point in time did Officer Burgess or Officer Robinson touch Sells in any kind of way as she stated in the Facebook comments. At no point in time did Officer Burgess sway the law as he allegedly “sees fit” as she alleged in her Facebook comments.
I understand that the language used by Officer Burgess may offend some people reading this. Please understand that sometimes it is necessary to use strong language depending on the situation at hand.
I will not sit back and allow these types of accusations to go unaddressed. I will not allow my officers to be publicly accused of such heinous accusations. Encounters with the public are recorded on dash and body cameras and for incidents such as this we are grateful. Officer Burgess and Officer Robinson do not deserve, nor do any other public servants deserve to be slandered in such a filthy way without cause.
Chief T Preator
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