PEA RIDGE — A credit card issued to the Pea Ridge School District was used to make a $400 contribution to the Boozman for Senate campaign.

When the charge was discovered by the school bookkeeper, superintendent Mike Van Dyke reported fraudulent credit card use to Pea Ridge police.

The money was refunded tothe school by Sen. John Boozman’s campaign office, according to the police report, and the records from Complete Campaigns.com have been forwarded to the police.

According to the police report, Van Dyke called the police about 9 a.m. Monday, Nov. 15, to report that a $400 charge to Complete Campaigns Inc. was on the Visa credit card statement, but he did not authorize the charge. Thecontribution was apparently placed online with Van Dyke’s name, address and phone number listed as part of the transaction.

Van Dyke, who was not available for a comment Tuesday, told police the card is used only for travel expenses and that the card number is kept in a filing cabinet in the accounting office.

The incident is under investigation.

News, Pages 1 on 12/01/2010