A Hot Springs woman was arrested Saturday after allegedly pepper spraying two juveniles and another victim.
Nancy Christine Dawson, 52, of 139 Murray St., was taken into custody at her residence shortly after 7 p.m. and charged with three counts of third-degree battery, a misdemeanor punishable by up to one year in jail. She remained in custody Monday in lieu of $5,500 bond and is set to appear Oct. 4 in Garland County District Court.
According to the affidavit, Hot Springs police Officer Shane Lewis responded to 139 Murray St. and, upon exiting his patrol unit, noticed a strong odor of pepper spray in the area. Lewis made contact with a 7-year-old female, a 12-year-old female and a 39-year-old female. All three victims told him they had been pepper sprayed by Dawson.
Dawson reportedly admitted she sprayed the 12-year-old because the girl was cursing at her and called Dawson a "b - - - - ." The adult victim said Dawson had sprayed her in the back. The 7-year-old said she was holding her nose due to Dawson spraying her around her nose. All three victims were observed to be coughing and reported a burning sensation.
It was determined that Dawson also had a warrant for failure to comply. She said the pepper spray was in a pink container in her bag. The victims said Dawson had walked away from the scene toward Grand Avenue. Lewis reportedly located the pepper spray container in a trash can in the area where the victims had said Dawson walked.
Local on 09/27/2016