An aggravated robbery suspect was arrested early Tuesday after he led officers on a foot chase into a residence where he changed clothes while hiding in a walk-in closet before being captured.
Lonnie Michael Davidson, 41, of Bonnerdale, was taken into custody at 7:42 a.m. and charged with aggravated robbery, a felony punishable by up to life in prison, residential burglary, punishable by up to 20 years, and breaking or entering and theft of property, each punishable by up to six years. Davidson received additional misdemeanor charges of theft of property under $1,000, criminal attempt of theft of property over $1,000 and fleeing, each punishable by up to one year in jail, and criminal trespass, punishable by up to 90 days.
Davidson also had a warrant for commercial burglary, a felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and a parole hold. He remained in custody Wednesday with zero bond on the aggravated robbery and other bonds totaling $22,750 and is set to appear April 26 in Garland County District Court.
According to the affidavit, at 6 a.m. Tuesday a Hot Springs police officer responded to 130 Alysonview St., where a resident who heard noises coming from the back of his house discovered that his four-wheeler had been moved from underneath his patio and was sitting in the backyard. A man appeared from around the side of the house pointing a gun at him and said, "Get your f - - - - - - a - - back in the house or I'll blow your head off."
The suspect, later identified as Davidson, followed the resident up the staircase to his home. The resident re-entered his home and locked the door. Davidson allegedly told him, "Don't come out or I'll kill both of you," referring to the resident's wife, then fled into the woods behind the house. While attempting to steal the four-wheeler, Davidson also allegedly kicked in the basement door and stole four sets of tools.
At 7:13 a.m., officers were informed that a suspicious male was running from Hot Springs Community Youth Counseling Christian School, 800 Ridgeway St., where an alarm was going off. A burglary was reported at the school and a witness said Davidson was running through yards in the 600 block of Ridgeway Street.
Shortly after 7:30 a.m., Detective Scott Lampinen located Davidson, who matched the description of the suspect from the earlier incidents, as he attempted to hide behind a vehicle in the 100 block of Millbranch Court. Lampinen tried to approach Davidson, but he fled on foot through Saxony Court and jumped fences to get to the 500 block of Ridgeway Street.
Davidson led officers on a foot chase until he disappeared into the residence at 540 Ridgeway St. A perimeter was set up around the house and the occupants, who just woke up, located Davidson inside their house. Davidson had gained entry through an unlocked door and changed clothes while hiding in a closet. The occupants advised officers of his whereabouts and he was taken into custody.
Davidson reportedly admitted he was the suspect who had contacted the resident on Alysonview and stole his tools, and that he had broken into the school and taken several laptops. He stated he discarded the laptops into a dumpster after the alarms went off and fled the scene. He had also stolen a chain saw and weed trimmer from a porch in the 100 block of Ridgemont Circle.
According to the affidavit on the commercial burglary warrant, on Feb. 19, the owner of David Portable Buildings, 724 Airport Road, reported that an unknown suspect had removed items from the business after entering it by breaking a window. Palm prints from the exterior of the window were sent to the state crime lab.
On March 10, the prints were matched to Davidson. The owner and employees said that Davidson was not an employee or a customer, and no one knew him.
Local on 04/14/2016