BENKELMAN, Neb. -- The former Dundy County Sheriff was arrested by Nebraska State Patrol investigators as part of an investigation into firearms missing from the sheriff's office. 

The NSP said an inventory check done by the sheriff's office found that four department-owned handguns were missing. 

Friday morning, the NSP said investigators served a search warrant at 42-year-old Clinton Smith's home in Benkelman. They said they found one of the four missing firearms. 

Smith was arrested for theft by unlawful taking and possession of a stolen firearm. 

He was lodged in Dundy County Jail. 

This is an ongoing investigation.