Dynamite found following car chase

A Caddo Valley woman was arrested Monday after a pursuit with Garland County sheriff's deputies ended with a bomb squad being called to remove explosives from a vehicle.

Kandyce Renae Jones, 23, was charged with five counts of criminal possession of explosives, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and remained in custody Monday in lieu of a $17,500 bond. She is due in Garland County District Court on April 7.

At 11 p.m. Sunday, Deputies Jon Lane, Elwood McConnell, Charles DeLaHunt and Sgt. Roy Williams initiated a traffic stop on a known suspect leaving a residence that was under investigation for a possible kidnapping. The driver was identified as 43-year-old Shannon Dale Smith. Lane ordered him to step out of the vehicle and that he was under arrest. Instead, Smith reportedly sped off.

The deputies pursued Smith and found the vehicle at Red Roof Inn, 1125 E. Grand Ave. Smith fled on foot, but deputies located Jones in the vehicle. According to the affidavit, during an inventory of the Buick Regal deputies located five sticks of dynamite in a gun case. Investigator Scott Hinojosa said an Airsoft Rifle was also removed from the vehicle. Earlier reports identified the weapon as an AR-15 type rifle.

Karina Rodelo, a receptionist at the Red Roof Inn, said people in six rooms were evacuated and moved to other rooms at the back of the motel after the dynamite was found and the Arkansas State Police bomb squad was called to the scene.

Garland County sheriff's deputies are actively searching for Smith on various charges. He is described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall, weighing 185 pounds, with a bald head and blue eyes. Anyone with information can contact the Garland County Sheriff's Department at 622-3666 or the 24-hour anonymous hotline at 622-3674.

Local on 03/31/2015

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