WHITE COUNTY, Ark. – What began as a child missing a school bus on April 29 turned into an arrest of a New Hampshire man at the Memphis airport.
The White County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday that 49-year-old Thomas Jordan of New Hampshire was arrested at the Memphis Airport after attempting to board a flight for Orlando, Florida. Investigators said Jordon is facing two felony charges of trafficking of a minor person and internet stalking of a child.
Jordan is currently held in the White County Detention Center on a $500,000 bond.
Officials said the investigation began when a juvenile girl was supposed to be on a Beebe school bus but never made it to the school. A short while later, school resource officers made phone contact with the young girl and determined she was safe and in the area, investigators said.
Court records show that a resource officer and the school’s vice principal picked the girl up and drove her to the sheriff’s office where she spoke with investigators. The arrest affidavit states investigators determined that Jordan had picked up the girl and later dropped her off when she said she did not want to go to New Hampshire with him.
Records show the girl told investigators she had been having a sexual relationship with Jordan since January.
Investigators later determined that Jordan had what they called “inappropriate contact” with the girl between picking her up and dropping her off. They further determined that Jordan had found out about the investigation and drove to the Memphis airport to take a flight to Orlando.
Sheriff’s office investigators said they contacted the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Air Marshalls Service and Memphis Police for help finding Jordan and taking him into custody, which they were able to do.
Investigators continued that additional information was found after Arkansas Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force officers contacted New Hampshire ICAC, leading to the two felony charges.
Jordan’s first plea and arraignment court appearance is scheduled for June 4.
