Two local male juveniles were arrested Monday morning in connection with an alleged armed carjacking that had occurred about seven hours earlier with what turned out to be a replica gun.
Both suspects were taken into custody shortly after 8 a.m. in the 200 block of Laurel Street. One suspect, 14, who is black, was charged with a felony count of aggravated robbery, punishable by up to life in prison, and misdemeanor counts of carrying a weapon, punishable by up to one year in jail, and public intoxication.
The second suspect, 15, who is white, was charged with a felony count of theft by receiving more than $1,000, punishable by up to six years in prison, and misdemeanor counts of criminal use of a prohibited weapon, punishable by up to one year in jail, disorderly conduct and public intoxication.
According to the affidavits, around 1 a.m. Monday, a local man, 22, states he was robbed at gunpoint by two black males who approached him in the 500 block of Summer Street while he was sitting in his 1991 Acura Integra and took the car.
Around 8 a.m., Hot Springs police responded to Laurel Street regarding a person waving a gun around and upon arrival saw a white male standing by the driver's side door of an Acura Integra stopped in the middle of the street.
The officers noted the suspect dropped something in the driver's side floorboard of the car as they approached. The item turned out to be a replica handgun so the suspect, identified as the 15-year-old, was detained.
It was soon determined the Integra was the same one that had been reported stolen earlier a total of three replica guns were located in the car.
A black male suspect, identified as the 14-year-old, was found passed out in the back seat and also detained. It was noted he matched the description of one of the two suspects who had allegedly robbed the victim at gunpoint earlier.
The 14-year-old was brought to the police department for questioning and his mother was notified and came in too.
HSPD Detective S. Lampinen spoke to the mother, who stated her son and two other juvenile males had been at her house around 10 p.m. Sunday when she went to bed. All three of the suspects were gone when she woke up.
She said she got a call from the police shortly before 9:30 a.m. telling her the suspects had robbed someone and stolen a car earlier that morning.
It was noted both the suspects who were arrested were "very intoxicated" and one claimed he took some prescription medication earlier. They were both unsteady on their feet and could barely walk.
The 15-year-old was also found to have a prohibited knife in his possession, resulting in the additional charge.
Both suspects were being held without bond and are set to appear Aug. 8 in Garland County Juvenile Court.
The Sentinel-Record follows The Associated Press privacy policies and does not publish the names of juvenile offenders unless they are charged as adults.
Local on 07/23/2014