Pine Bluff police officer fired, charged with DWI after crashing cruiser into Sissy’s Log Cabin
PINE BLUFF, Ark. – Officials with the Pine Bluff Police Department revealed more information after an off-duty officer crashed into a jewelry store while driving over 100 mph on Thursday morning.
During a press conference Thursday afternoon, officials confirmed that 25-year-old Xavier Higgins, an officer of the department since June 24, 2024, was fired after being charged with DWI, careless and prohibited driving and failure to obey a stop sign.
PBPD Public Information Specialist John Worthen said that around 1:02 a.m. an alarm call was logged at Sissy’s Log Cabin on S. Camden Road. A short time later, an off-duty officer made a call to the on-duty supervisor saying that a PBPD patrol unit had struck the building.
When officers arrived, they gave Higgins a breath test and he blew a .17, which is twice the legal limit of .08. Officials said that his patrol unit was buried inside the store, causing approximately $500,000 in damage and totaling the vehicle.
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Officials estimated that Higgins was driving “well over 100 miles per hour” at the time of the crash after leaving a social event at the police lodge on Target Valley Road. When Higgins’ vehicle was being inspected at the armory, officials confirmed that they found opened containers of alcohol in the backseat.
During the press conference, Assistant Chief Kelven Hadley said that Higgins was cited and released at the time of the incident.
He was cited and released. When you do give a citation, that’s a criminal citation, that is an arrest,” Hadley said.
When asked if the reason Higgins wasn’t booked is because the Jefferson County Jail is not taking DWI’s at the moment, Hadley confirmed that is correct.
A court date of Dec. 4, 2025, was set for Higgins, who apologized and said he “did not want to create a bad image for the department or the city of Pine Bluff.”
Officials confirmed during the press conference that Higgins was cited on June 17, 2025, for violating the department’s pursuit policy regarding another incident and was still on probation at the time of the crash.
Pine Bluff police officer fired, charged with DWI after crashing cruiser into Sissy’s Log Cabin
An off-duty Pine Bluff Police officer was fired after crashing into a jewelry store while driving over 100 mph, resulting in $500,000 in damage and a DWI charge.
