Michael Dixon resigns as sheriff in Osage County

UPDATE 5/27:The Osage County Clerk’s Office has confirmed Michael Dixon resigned as sheriff.

Dixon apparently resigned his position Thursday night. Dixon’s resignation comes after he pleaded not guilty in April to an unlawful use of a weapon charge. Court documents allege he pointed a loaded gun at a another person, while he was reportedly drunk at a bar in Hartsburg.

Here is the resignation letter Dixon sent to the commission:

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ORIGINAL: Osage County Commission met Thursday morning in Linn. Among the items on the agenda was an update on Sheriff Michael Dixon.

But when the commissioners got to it during the meeting, there wasn’t much of an update.

In fact, no one on the commission has heard from Dixon in several months.

“That’s all it is frustration,” said presiding commissioner Dave Dudenhoeffer. “He don’t want to talk to us. He goes out and hides and we got to talk all the heat.”

Sheriff Dixon pleaded not guilty in April to an unlawful use of a weapon charge after court documents allege he pointed a loaded gun at a another person, while he was reportedly drunk at a bar in Hartsburg.

He’s also facing harassment charges from 2013 as well.

“It’s been frustrating for two years,” said Dudenhoeffer.

But the commissioners said Thursday they can’t fire Dixon because state law prohibits against the commission firing an elected official.

“He’s his own boss,” said Dudenhoeffer.

Dudenhoeffer said they’ll have to wait until elections in November if nothing happens until then.

But they will continue to reach out to Dixon. But they said in the meantime, the county is still in good shape.

“People are still being covered and emergency services are still working, doing their best to keep everything going,” said Dudenhoeffer. “It’s not like anything’s not being covered. We’re just short a sheriff.”