TVH11 published October 28, 2022: State auditor candidate arrested on felony terroristic threatening. LRPD confirm that Diamond Arnold-Johnson, a Democratic candidate running for Auditor of State, has been arrested for first-degree terroristic threatening.
Arkansas Democrat Gazette
written by Neal Earley
Tuesday November 1, 2022
An affidavit signed by a Little Rock police detective provided further details behind the arrest of a candidate running for state auditor.
Diamond Arnold-Johnson, a Democrat running to replace outgoing auditor Andrea Lea, was arrested by police Friday on a charge of felony, first-degree terroristic threatening.
According to the affidavit, Arnold-Johnson, 32, was arrested for comments she allegedly wrote while logged in to the Facebook account of her husband, Arick Johnson. The posts were made against Arick Johnson's former attorney, Cara Connors. Connors is the judge-elect for Pulaski County 12th Division Circuit Court.
A post written on Arick Johnson's Facebook page referenced Connors, including her address, and stated "here we come" followed by a bull's-eye emoji, a fire emoji and a "100" emoji followed by "BY ANY MEANS NECESSARY". The post prompted Connors to contact police fearing for her safety, according to the affidavit.
In September 2021, police arrested Arick Johnson on a charge of terroristic threatening. During a trial for the case, Arnold-Johnson testified that she wrote the posts in question. When asked under direct examination "Who typed those posts," Arnold-Johnson said "I did."
In court, Arnold-Johnson was asked, "But you're telling this jury that all of those posts there that the State introduced, you were the author of and you posted?" She replied "I am. Yes, sir."
Arick Johnson was acquitted after a jury trial in August.
On Sept. 21, a post written on a Facebook page with Arnold-Johnson's image and name said "Cara Boyd Connors played with me and my family sooooooooo it's only RIGHT I pay her BACK!!! I better not see her anywhere in public I just may plea INSANITY," according to the affidavit.
On Friday, police arrested Arnold-Johnson on a charge of felony first-degree terroristic threatening. Arnold-Johnson posted a video of the arrest on her Facebook page. She was released on bond Saturday, she said.
In an interview with the Democrat-Gazette, Arnold-Johnson said there was no intent to threaten Connors, instead saying she wanted to organize a peaceful protest outside her home.
Arnold-Johnson is running against Republican Dennis Milligan and Libertarian Simeon Snow in the race for state auditor.
After her arrest, the Democratic Party of Arkansas released a statement saying it did not recruit Arnold-Johnson to run for office and that anyone engaged in criminal behavior should be held accountable. The statement also said Arnold-Johnson has a right to due process.
Arnold-Johnson said she will continue her campaign for auditor.
Snarky Media Group published October 27, 2022: LRPD tries to arrest Diamond Johnson, the Arkansas Democratic Party candidate for Auditor. Little Rock Police are back at the residence of Diamond Arnold Johnson, the Democratic party of Arkansas candidate for Auditor, to arrest her on a warrant for terroristic threatening, a felony charge.
She tells police in the video above that she doesn't have on any clothes while you can clearly see her through the window with clothes on. (emphasis mine)
The Blaze Media
written by Cortney Weil
Saturday October 29, 2022
A Democrat candidate for statewide office in Arkansas has been arrested for allegedly making terroristic threats.
On Friday, Diamond Arnold-Johnson, 32, who is currently running to be the state auditor of Arkansas, was arrested while she was conducting a Facebook Live stream. According to reports, she had an outstanding warrant for first-degree terroristic threatening, a Class D felony.
Max Brantley of the Arkansas Times reported that, two months ago, Arnold-Johnson's husband, Arick Johnson, 36, went on trial for terroristic threatening based on some unidentified Facebook messages that had been attributed to him. During court proceedings, his wife testified that she had been the one to make the threats, not her husband, resulting in his acquittal.
Her open court admission then prompted further investigation into the threats. Police obtained a warrant for her arrest and attempted to serve her on October 13, but Arnold-Johnson supposedly refused. Rather than "escalate a non-violent situation" for "a non-violent warrant," several officers from the Little Rock Police Department decided to serve her again on Friday, when she briefly locked herself in a bathroom before eventually opening the door and cooperating with officers.
Arnold-Johnson was then booked in the Pulaski County jail on a $30,000 bond. It is unclear when she is expected appear in court.
Though accusations of a felony cannot prevent Arnold-Johnson from pursuing state office, a felony conviction would likely prevent her from holding office. Should Arnold-Johnson win the election in November and later be convicted of the charges, she would likely be removed from office and a successor would be appointed by the governor. Early voting in Arkansas began four days before her arrest.
The Democratic Party of Arkansas has already attempted to distance itself from Arnold-Johnson.
"Earlier today, we were made aware that Diamond Arnold-Johnson was arrested by Little Rock Police," the party said in a statement. "Everyone has the right to due process; however, our Party firmly believes people must be held accountable for any criminal behavior, especially candidates for public office. The Democratic Party of Arkansas did not recruit her to run for Auditor of State, and we cannot bar her from running for this position. We remain focused on working for a better Arkansas and winning races across the state."
At least one of Arnold-Johnson's political opponents has even called for her to drop out of the race.
"Anyone who has an active felony warrant for their arrest should not be running for office or handling the state's very important financial business," said Republican candidate Dennis Milligan. "Rather, their time and energy would benefit more from focusing on their's (sic) and their spouse's legal morass."
Libertarian candidate Simeon Snow, 37, expressed sympathy for Arnold-Johnson's family and friends, as well as confidence that voters will do their research and determine that he is the best candidate for the job.
In 2014, Arnold-Johnson pled guilty to misdemeanor carrying of a weapon and misdemeanor third-degree endangering the welfare of a minor. She was sentenced to probation.
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