On Wednesday afternoon, November 29, the Greenwood Police Department released the following:
“On November 8th, a Greenwood Patrol Officer was involved in an ATV accident resulting in injury. Chief Brad Hobbs requested the sheriff’s office to investigate the accident involving one of his officers that occurred in the city limits of Greenwood.
The officer was placed on leave & placed under an internal investigation. The Greenwood Police Department will not be releasing further information pending the results of an internal investigation.”
According to the SCSO, William Ren Reid, 40, was booked into the Sebastian County Detention Center this morning, Wednesday, November 29 at 8:48 a.m. and was released on $1,500 legally sufficient bond at 10:11 a.m. Reid was charged with endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree. Reid has since resigned from the Greenwood Police Department.
According to a probable cause affidavit, Reid had asked a teen to ride with him on a 4-wheeler. The boy informed Reid that the brakes were bad and that it was a “bad idea.” The teen got on the 4-wheeler, and Reid reportedly drove the ATV fast through the neighborhood. The 4-wheeler flipped over when Reid tried to make a left-hand turn. The boy was not hurt, but Reid was flown to the hospital. He was treated and released and had been recovering at home on paid leave.
Emergency responders were dispatched to the scene of the wreck. When police learned a fellow officer was involved, they asked the Sebastian County Sheriff’s Office to respond and take over the investigation to avoid a conflict of interest.