John R. Tyson arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Fayetteville

FAYETTEVILLE – John R. Tyson, chief financial officer of Tyson Foods, was arrested Thursday on several charges, including drunken driving and reckless driving.

Tyson, 34, was arrested by University of Arkansas police. He was booked into the Washington County Detention Center around 1:30 a.m. Thursday on charges of drunken driving, reckless driving and improper turning.

He was released at 10:41 a.m. on $1,105 bail.

Tyson Foods released a statement about the incident.

“We are aware that John Randal Tyson, Chief Financial Officer of Tyson Foods, was arrested for alleged drunken driving. Tyson Foods has suspended Mr. Tyson from his duties effective immediately and appointed Curt Calaway as interim Chief Financial Officer.”

In January 2023, Tyson pleaded guilty in Fayetteville District Court to two counts of public intoxication and trespassing. He was fined $150 for each count, as well as court costs totaling $440.

These charges stemmed from an incident reported early in the morning of November 7, 2022. Police were called to 445 N. Mock Ave. in Fayetteville for a burglary. According to a preliminary police report, a woman stated she came home to find an unknown man sleeping in her bed. The woman told police she thought the front door had been left unlocked.

Police found Tyson sleeping in a back bedroom on the first floor. The officer woke Tyson, who sat up but did not respond verbally, according to the report. He then lay back down and tried to go back to sleep. The officer said Tyson smelled alcohol and his movements were sluggish and uncoordinated.

Tyson later publicly apologized to the resident of the house as well as the company’s investors and employees.

Tyson was named chief financial officer of Springdale-based Tyson Foods in September 2022.