Former Dallas County Sheriff Deputy arrested in New Hampshire

Published 6:24 pm Monday, July 13, 2020

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A former Dallas County Sheriff Deputy was caught in New Hampshire last weekend for several crimes committed in the area.

Joshua Matthew Davidson was located and arrested without no incident in Hampton Beach, according to the U.S. Marshals Service.

Davidson, 30, is wanted on three arrest warrants issued on June 25 by the Dallas County District Court: human trafficking, second-degree kidnapping and first-degree sodomy.

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According to Selma Police Chief Kenta Fulford, a woman claims Davidson sexually assaulted her at a traffic stop inside the Selma city limits in January. She filed a complaint with the SPD. Fulford turned the case over to Dallas County Sheriff Mike Granthum.

“We did the report because it happened in the city and once we discovered it was a deputy, we notified Granthum’s office who in turn had the investigation done,” Fulford said.

Granthum called in the ALEA Bureau of Investigation to investigate and said the organization came up with several crime.

“We had Officer Joshua Davidson, who conducted a traffic stop inside the city limits in Selma, and there were some allegations that were brought against him that were sexual in nature,” Granthum said.

“We started an internal investigation, myself and the Selma Police Department, after they notified me. And once I found out there were some criminal allegations we were able to turn those over to SBI and they were able to gather some evidence that led to some warrants against Mr. Davidson.”

Granthum said Davidson resigned the day after his arrest, ending his 2 ½ month stint at DCSO.

Court documents list Davidson as having an address in Greenville, but marshals said following his arrest his last known address was Fort Deposit.

“When officers told Davidson he was going to be arrested, he took off on a plane,” Granthum said.

Officers took Davidson to the Rockingham County Jail in Brentwood where he was processed and held without bail as a fugitive from justice. He appeared in Hampton District Court earlier this week.

Dallas County District Attorney Michael Jackson said Davidson waived his extradition in New Hampshire and will be picked up by Dallas County law enforcement in a few days to get prosecuted for his crimes at the Dallas Courthouse.

Granthum said the U.S. Marshals Service said Hampton and Seabrook police, New Hampshire State Police, Rockingham and Belknap County sheriffs, the Federal Protective Service and deputy U.S. marshals worked together on the arrest.

“It annoys me he had a badge,” Granthum said. “Officers are supposed to protect citizens, not be a predator. Just because an officer has a badge, it doesn’t make him above the law. In my opinion, officers are held to a higher standard.”