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A judge in Randolph County has ordered Guilford County Commissioner Steve Arnold arrested and jailed in connection with a long-running development dispute in Archdale.

Superior Court Judge John O. Craig III issued the order Tuesday, declaring Arnold in civil contempt of court. The order says Arnold had failed to answer questions and provide documents to Elkes Development, LLC, which is involved in a lawsuit with Arnold's land-development company, Arcon Inc.

"The real significance of this order is that no one is above the law," said David B. Puryear Jr., an attorney for Elkes.

Arnold, 46, had not been arrested as of Wednesday afternoon. In a telephone interview, he called the incident a "misunderstanding" with an attorney. He said he provided the information to his attorneys "a couple of weeks ago."

"Somehow, it just kind of fell through the cracks and just kind of never got to where it was going," he said.

Arnold said his attorney, Trip Adams, told him that both parties would meet with the judge Thursday and "get it all worked out." Puryear said late Wednesday afternoon that he wasn't aware of any scheduled meeting. Adams declined to comment.

To lift the order, Arnold must pay Elkes and its lawyers $6,250, along with answering the questions and providing documents that Elkes requested. Arnold said he wasn't in the county, but intended to return in time for Thursday's commissioners meeting.

The suit involves the construction of an Archdale subdivision. Elkes owned the property, and hired Arcon in 2003 to grade it and put in streets, among other tasks. But Arcon didn't do the work properly or complete it on time, Puryear said. Arcon, he said, owes Elkes money.

In his order, Craig said Arcon's breach of contract "caused injury and damage to Elkes," adding that the only remaining issue left in the case is how much Arcon owes to Elkes.

Randolph County Sheriff Maynard B. Reid Jr. said he'd seen the order and said he would use "due diligence to serve this paper." Since Arnold lives in Guilford County, his arrest could be the responsibility of Guilford Sheriff BJ Barnes.

Reid said such arrests are made promptly.

"When a judge says arrest one, we don't question it. We arrest him," Reid said. "And I'm sure BJ does the same."

Arnold, a Republican, was first elected in 1990 and is the senior member of the board of commissioners.

Staff writer Sonja Elmquist contributed to this story.

Contact Nate DeGraff at 373-7024 or ndegraff@news-record.com