A Hot Springs man was arrested on a residential burglary warrant after a brief manhunt Wednesday morning.
Nathan David Holmes, 31, who lists a Brooks Lane address, was taken into custody at around 11:15 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant for residential burglary, a felony punishable by up to 20 years in prison. He was also charged with felony possession of methamphetamine, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, and fleeing.
He remained in custody Thursday in lieu of a $32,500 bond and is set to appear in Garland County District Court on Sept. 11.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Arkansas State Police Trooper Corey Ray was off duty on Sept. 28, 2016, when he reported seeing a white Chevrolet truck enter the driveway to a home in the 5300 block of Park Avenue that had been burglarized recently.
Ray was able to identify the driver, but was unable to identify the passenger in the vehicle.
Ray was joined at the residence by Garland County Sheriff's Deputy Joey Pate, and they reportedly observed several windows open, a cut screen and a single light on inside the residence.
The homeowner was contacted and confirmed her house had been burglarized. She reported numerous items of jewelry and a cellphone missing, with a total estimated value of approximately $6,200.
Ray and the homeowner soon discovered the suspects had removed a pillowcase from a bed and used it to remove the homeowner's jewelry.
When asked if she knew the truck's driver, she said she had never heard of him and he had never been to her house.
The driver was taken into custody that night and interviewed in relation to the burglary. He reportedly admitted to burglarizing the home, listing Holmes as his accomplice.
According to the driver, it was Holmes' idea to break into the residence, and Holmes who reportedly entered the home, stole the items, placed them in a pillowcase, and returned to the vehicle.
According to the probable cause affidavit on Holmes' arrest, Hot Springs police Lt. Larry Patrick was assisting a Hot Springs Village police officer with a burglary follow up at around 9 a.m. Wednesday. The HSV officer said she had observed a stolen generator from her jurisdiction on a trailer attached to a 2001 white Dodge pickup truck in the driveway of 510 Stover St.
As the HSV officer's vehicle pulled into the driveway, the truck pulling the trailer reportedly fled around the rear of the residence. Patrick checked a second driveway, where another vehicle was attempting to leave. It reportedly came to an abrupt stop and stayed in the driveway, blocking the exit.
A passenger in the pickup truck, later identified as Holmes, reportedly opened the door and fled on foot, carrying a black bag. Holmes reportedly ran around a disabled vehicle parked in the yard, fleeing into a wooded area with the bag.
After learning there was a valid felony warrant for his arrest, patrol officers set up a perimeter until Cpl. Brandon Jones and K-9 partner, Keena, arrived to track Holmes.
During the search, Jones and Keena reportedly located several items, including a black backpack, two shirts and a small black bag. Inside the small black bag, Investigator Ty Threadgill located 2.9 grams of suspected methamphetamine, a cut off straw and three syringes.
A short time later, Jones and Keena located Holmes and arrested him without further incident. He complained of shortness of breath and pain in his wrist. Holmes was transported to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs where he was treated and released into custody.
Local on 08/25/2017