In the quiet, early morning hours of an April day in McDougal, Arkansas, a violent encounter irrevocably shattered the peace of the small community. On that Thursday, April 6, 1972, Clay County Deputy Sheriff Glendal Ray Archer, a 35-year-old male, along with Sheriff Douglas Batey and Deputy Sheriff Troy Key, drove to a residence about a half-mile northwest of the town. Their mission was to serve a warrant for assault with intent to kill on a man named Elbert Ray 'Bert' Grissom.
The warrant stemmed from a complaint filed by Grissom’s daughter and son-in-law, who reported that he had forcibly entered their home and threatened their lives.
As the three officers arrived at the Grissom property and began to exit their vehicle in the driveway, the situation escalated with shocking speed. Without warning, Grissom opened fire on them with a 12-gauge shotgun. The initial blasts were devastating, instantly killing Sheriff Batey, who was 49, and Deputy Archer. Deputy Key was critically wounded in the back by the gunfire. In the immediate aftermath, a call for assistance and an ambulance was made by Archer. Deputy Key would hold on to life for another ten days before succumbing to his injuries.
The scene was soon flooded with law enforcement officers from the surrounding areas. The Corning Chief of Police, Ed Smith, was the first to arrive and found Grissom, then 52, sitting on the tailgate of his truck. In a surprisingly calm turn of events, Grissom was arrested without any further incident. He was taken into custody by the Arkansas State Police, who had arrived with multiple units. Grissom was subsequently charged with three counts of first-degree murder.
The legal process that followed found Elbert Ray Grissom guilty on all three counts of murder. He was sentenced to life in prison for the slayings of Sheriff Douglas Batey, Deputy Sheriff Glendal Ray Archer, and Deputy Sheriff Troy Key. Grissom remained incarcerated until his death in prison on March 12, 1984. Deputy Archer, who had served with the Clay County Sheriff's Department for four years, left behind a wife and five children. The tragic event left a lasting scar on the community and stands as a grim reminder of the dangers faced by law enforcement officers in the line of duty.
