Man allegedly threatens store employees with gun

Wilburn
Wilburn

A Hot Springs man was arrested Thursday and charged with aggravated robbery, a felony punishable by up to life in prison, when he mentioned having a gun at a store.

James Wilburn, 24, who listed a 554 Vineyard St. address, remained in custody Friday with no bond on the robbery charge and other bonds totaling $3,000. He is due in Garland County District Court March 10.

Shortly before 11 a.m., Officer 1st Class Chadick responded to Wal-Mart, 1601 Albert Pike Road, in reference to a robbery. Upon arrival he made contact with a Wal-Mart loss prevention employee. She stated she and three other loss prevention employees observed a male, identified as Wilburn, take a package of lighters off a shelf and take them to the return center for a fraudulent return of $8.73. Wilburn was also observed with another male in the store.

The loss prevention employees attempted to stop Wilburn as he and the second male subject left the store. Wilburn complied and went with them to the security office. Once there, he put his hand in his jacket pocket and allegedly stated, "Just so you know, I have a gun, and I don't want to have to use it." With his hand still in his pocket, he then gestured to the employees like he had a weapon. The employees backed up and Wilburn ran out of the store.

The second male subject stated he didn't know Wilburn and had just gotten a ride with him to the store. He described their vehicle as a Ford Focus and identified it when it was located in the parking lot.

Sgt. Abbott arrived on scene to assist, and while he was near the Ford Focus, Wilburn returned to the car. He was positively identified by the male subject and Wal-Mart employees. Wilburn was taken into custody and had one .22 caliber bullet in his pocket but no weapon.

• A habitual offender with a history of fleeing from law enforcement was arrested Thursday morning after a brief police chase.

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McGuiggan

Gerald Andrew McGuiggan, who listed a 228 S. Patterson St. address, was charged with theft by receiving, a felony punishable by up to six years in prison, and fleeing in a vehicle, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. He remained in custody Friday in lieu of bonds totaling $3,500 and is due in district court March 10.

Around 7 a.m., Officer May observed a Chrysler Concordia that was reported stolen Feb. 14 traveling on Park Avenue. A check of the license plate confirmed it was the stolen vehicle, and May attempted a traffic stop. The driver, later identified as McGuiggan, reportedly refused to stop, even while being pursued by multiple units. After around 10 minutes, McGuiggan stopped the vehicle in the 400 block of Audubon Street and was taken into custody.

In 2013, Garland County sheriff's Deputy Shane Tatum was involved in a pursuit with McGuiggan when the license plate for his vehicle was found to be fictitious. McGuiggan wrecked the vehicle and advised Tatum there were narcotics inside. He was also convicted in Boone County in 2002 for second-degree forgery and in 2003 on robbery, theft of property and multiple drugs charges, and in Garland County in 2011 for fleeing, theft and forgery charges.

Local on 02/28/2015

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