Hackett City Councilwoman, Tamara Neidecker, was arrested by Bonanza Police on Wednesday December 11. According to the incident report by the arresting officer, Neidecker, 39, was pulled over after allegedly crossing the white line multiple times.
At 8:54 p.m., Bonanza Police Sergeant Montana Sims, was parked at the country store in Bonanza when he noticed a white SUV use its turn signal to turn into the parking lot next to him. However, it rapidly accelerated southbound on Highway 45. “I turned out behind the vehicle and began to follow it observing it cross the white fog line at least four times between Maple St. and Bear Hollow Rd., at one point both of the vehicles right tires crossed over the line and onto the shoulder. I activated my emergency lights on my vehicle at Bear Hollow Rd., however the vehicle continued to maintain its speed and direction south on Highway 45 passing multiple places to stop as well as a very large shoulder on that section of the highway. I activated my siren, and the vehicle continued south until it turned onto Lake Ln and stopped.”
Sims approached the vehicle and noticed that the driver, later identified as Tamara Neidecker, was the sole occupant of the vehicle. Sims also noted the strong odor of intoxicants from inside the vehicle. “I also observed that she was holding her phone up at the window and the name read Sean White. I asked her why she was on the phone with (Hackett Police) Chief White, and she stated, ‘I called him.'”
Sims would advise Neidecker of the reason for the traffic stop and inquired how much she had been drinking. “…She did not answer. At this point I noticed that her eyes were very blood shot and watery.” Sims asked for and was provided Neidecker’s driver’s license. “I also asked two more times how much she had been drinking, and she still did not answer. I asked if she was going to answer any of my questions and she shook her head no.”
Sergeant Sims would ask Neidecker to step out of her vehicle, to which she replied, “I’m gonna do a couple of things” while allegedly slurring her speech. “Ms. Neidecker then began to remove her seat belt and told me she was going to roll her window up, but I told her to leave it down and just step out of the vehicle. “However, she responded with ‘can I roll my window up in case my car
gets towed.'”
Neidecker complied, exited the vehicle and walked toward the patrol car. “Once at my car, Ms. Neidecker began to walk around to the driver side of my unit, and I had to redirect her attention to me and bring her back up to the front. I then again asked her how much she had to drink, and she only stared at me while holding her hands in the air. I then asked if she would take the standardized field sobriety tests (SFST’s) and she shook her head no with her hands in the air. After one more opportunity to complete the SFST’s she still shook her head no, so I placed her into handcuffs and advised her that she was under arrest for suspicion of driving while
intoxicated. I then attempted to complete a search on Ms. Neidecker, but she started to pull her arm away from me while loudly saying ‘no sir, I have no weapons, I have no anything’ slurring her speech the entire time. After a search of her pockets was completed, I again offered for her to do the SFST’s but she provided no answer and just continued to stare at me.”
At this time, Hackett Police Officer Levi Thomas arrived on the scene. While checking the vehicle, Sergeant Sims observed a purple marijuana container in the door pocket of Neidecker’s vehicle.
An inventory search of the vehicle was conducted. The following items were seized: One glass jar containing loose marijuana; two purple pre-roll marijuana container containing marijuana; one wooden container holding marijuana and smoking device; and one vape pen suspected of containing THC. An empty small bottle of Tito’s vodka was also located and seized.
Arrangements were made for Neidecker’s vehicle to be towed, and she was transported to the Fort Smith Police Department for a certified breath test. “While enroute to their station I had to pull over and check on Ms. Neidecker at the country store because she would not respond to
me when I was asking if she was ok,” Sims’ report stated. “As I opened the back door, she lifted her head up and acknowledged me. Once we arrived at FSPD we entered the breath test room and her handcuffs were moved to the front. I handed her the Arkansas statement of rights form so that she could read along as I read it to her. When asked if she understood the section I read she wouldn’t verbally acknowledge me but would only point at the next section so I continued on. Once it was completed, I asked her if she would submit to the breath test and she shook her head no, I also asked if she would initial next to the sections I had read and she tossed the paper on the floor. After setting up the certified breath machine I gave her three opportunities to submit a sample of her breath, but she refused all three by shaking her head no. While in the breath test room Ms. Neidecker refused to sign any paperwork including her temporary driver’s license”
Neidecker was then transported across the street to the Sebastian County Adult Detention Center. According to Sim’s report, while inside, Neidecker began yelling and becoming combative with detention deputies. “While they were attempting to dress her out, I could hear her screaming and refusing to follow their commands. After a short while they opened the door to the
changing room and Ms. Neidecker intentionally exposed her breasts to the deputies and us behind the intake counter while filling out the paperwork.”
Hackett Police Chief Sean White included a supplemental statement to Sim’s report: “I… received a call at 8:54 p.m. from Tamara Neidecker. Upon answering the call Mrs. Neidecker stated that she was being pulled over. I asked her where she was. She stated that she was being pulled
over by Bonanza Police Department. I asked why she was being pulled over she would not say, so I asked her again. Again, she would not state why she was being pulled over. At that time, she asked if I would stay on the line, so I did as asked. I then heard Officer Sims’ voice and he asked ‘why didn’t you stop?’ And ‘I see that you have Chief White on the phone’. He then asked ‘How much have you had to drink? I can smell the alcohol.’ I stayed on the line but did not interact… The phone was hung up after I heard Mrs. Neidecker state that she wanted to call her lawyer.
The call lasted approximately six minutes.”
Neidecker was ultimately charged with Possession of Controlled Substance – Schedule VI Misdemeanor <4oz. and Driving While Intoxicated 1st Offense. She was released on legally sufficient bond December 12, 2024 at 2:47 a.m. Neidecker is scheduled for her first court appearance on December 16 at 12:30 p.m. in Greenwood.
We reached out to Neidecker for comment but have yet to hear back.
