Two suspects were arrested Wednesday evening after a short pursuit in a stolen vehicle with Hot Springs police officers.
James Dean Smith, 32, and Carlos Isidro Solla-Lopez, 46, were taken into custody shortly after 7:30 p.m. Smith was charged with possession of a controlled substance, a felony punishable by up to six years in prison, and remained in custody Thursday in lieu of a $2,500 bond. Solla-Lopez was charged with theft by receiving and possession of a firearm by certain persons, felonies punishable by up to six years in prison. He remained in custody Thursday in lieu of bonds totaling $6,000. Both are due in Garland County District Court on July 14.
At 7:30 p.m., a dispatcher advised officers a vehicle owner was following his Chevrolet Cavalier, which was reported stolen earlier that day. The owner followed the vehicle on Summer Street but lost sight of it when it turned onto Bess Street. Officer Summitt located the vehicle and he and Cpl. Zaner followed, activating their emergency equipment.
According to the affidavit, the vehicle gained speed and continued onto Lester Street when Summitt observed a backpack rolling down the road. The vehicle then turned onto Lunar Place and came to a stop at the dead end. Three subjects exited the vehicle and the driver, identified as Solla-Lopez, ran into a wooded area. Two passengers, one identified as Smith, exited and Smith tossed an object on the ground. Smith and the second passenger were detained.
During a search of Smith's person, officers located a glass pipe with marijuana residue, a bag that contained 0.7 grams of methamphetamine, a hypodermic needle with a clear liquid and a spoon with a white residue. The object Smith tossed on the ground was found to be a hypodermic needle containing liquid. Solla-Lopez was located and detained in the area of Summer and Oaklawn streets.
Inside the bag found in the road was a pistol. Officers also located other items that the vehicle owners stated belonged to them when the vehicle was stolen. According to the affidavit, Solla-Lopez stated he knew the vehicle was stolen and the firearm was in the bag, but he denied it was his.
Solla-Lopez has previous felony convictions and was last convicted in February 2013 in California for manufacturing a dangerous substance.
• Officers arrested two men on drug charges after a traffic stop that originated from suspicion of intoxicated driving.
Zachary Remington Dixon, 18, and Shawn Albert Allen, 26, were both charged with possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, a felony punishable by up to six years in prison. Allen was also charged with possession of drug paraphernalia, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. Dixon remained in custody Thursday in lieu of a $2,500 bond and Allen remained in custody in lieu of bonds totaling $3,500. Both are due in district court July 14.
Shortly after 1 a.m., Cpl. Goss observed a vehicle traveling west on Albert Pike Road. The vehicle's tires crossed the centerline and the driver veered into the outside lane without signaling. According to the affidavit, Goss initiated a traffic stop at the Mountain Pine Junction for suspicion of an intoxicated person.
Goss made contact with the driver, Allen, and determined he was not impaired. Allen gave consent for the vehicle to be search but said if anything was found, it was not his. Three other occupants were asked to exit the vehicle. Goss located a glass smoking pipe with marijuana residue and Officer Plummer found a pill bottle that contained 0.7 grams of meth. Dixon was placed into custody for possession of the meth and Allen was placed into custody for the smoking pipe.
According to the affidavit, Allen stated the pipe was his but he knew nothing about the meth. Dixon stated he got into the vehicle a few minutes before being stopped but he also knew nothing about the meth.
• A suspect wanted for stealing a vehicle in 2013 was arrested Wednesday on a felony charge.
Damian Shawn Owens, 41, who listed a McCafferty Street address, was charged with theft of property, punishable by up to 10 years in prison. He remained in custody Thursday in lieu of a $10,000 bond and is due in district court July 14.
On Oct., 4, 2013, officers responded to 650 Quapaw Ave. in reference to a vehicle theft. The victim stated he woke up that morning and found his truck missing. On Oct. 21, 2013, Garland County sheriff's deputies located the truck on Cedarglades Road, wrecked and abandoned. Detective Fallis found what appeared to be blood on the dashboard and sent samples to the Arkansas State Crime Laboratory.
According to the affidavit, On Dec. 27, 2013, ASCL reported the DNA samples belonged to Owens. Fallis collected another DNA sample from Owens on June 4, 2014, pursuant to a court order and on June 9, 2014, he received a notarized letter from Ownes admitting to the theft.
On June 3, 2014, Fallis received a report from ASCL stating both DNA samples matched and identified Owens as the suspect.
Local on 07/03/2015