A Hot Springs man was arrested Thursday for reportedly shooting at someone's car with a pellet gun and on a felony warrant for allegedly breaking a friend's jaw last month.
Derrick La'Keith Chambers Jr., 18, of 325 Leonard St., was arrested at his residence at around 1:45 p.m. and charged with felony counts of second-degree battery and first-degree criminal mischief, both punishable by up to six years in prison.
He remained in custody Friday in lieu of $7,500 bond and is set to appear in Garland County District Court on July 11.
According to the battery affidavit, Hot Springs police Officer Billy Perkins responded to a residence in the 600 block of Ward Street in reference to a battery and made contact with the male victim, 18, who said Chambers came to his residence to retrieve some belongings.
At one point, Chambers left the residence and asked the victim to come to the side of the house to talk. Once there, the victim said Chambers punched him once on each side of the jaw, got into a waiting vehicle occupied by four other people, and fled.
The victim said he and Chambers had been friends for several years. Perkins observed bleeding from the victim's mouth and injuries to his face as he was speaking to him. The victim's mother was also there and said she saw Chambers hit her son in the face, then flee the scene.
On June 1, the victim and his mother came to the police department and spoke with Detective Mark Fallis. The victim gave Fallis a copy of his medical records, which indicated he had fractures to each side of his jaw that required him to undergo surgery and have metal screws and plates placed in each side of his jaw.
The victim's mother showed Fallis a video on her phone that allegedly showed Chambers punching her son in the face several times, causing him to fall to the ground, and then walking away. Based on the statements and other evidence, a warrant was issued for Chambers on the battery charge.
At 1:30 p.m. Thursday, police Officers 1st Class Rod West and Cynthia Howerton responded to a disturbance at Chambers' residence and made contact with a female who alleged Chambers had shot at her vehicle with a pellet gun, causing $2,000 in damage. Officers observed multiple holes in the hood, windshield and left front panel.
West and HSPD Officer John McLean made contact with Chambers at the residence's rear entrance and detained him while a dispatcher confirmed the battery warrant.
West asked Chambers if he knew anything about the damage to the victim's vehicle. Chambers said he and the victim were having an argument, during which she grabbed a wrench and threw it at him. She then ran up on the porch and continued arguing with Chambers.
Chambers said the victim tried to hit him, at which point he "shot at her vehicle several times" with a pellet gun as she was walking back to her car.
• A Hot Springs man was arrested early Thursday after reportedly punching another man at a downtown bar and then fleeing the scene.
Matthew Chadwick Nesbett, 35, who lists a Reynolds Street address, was arrested at around 2:39 a.m. and charged with misdemeanor counts of third-degree domestic battery and disorderly conduct.
He later appeared in district court and was sentenced to 10 days in jail on both counts with a release date of July 1.
According to the affidavit, at around 2:30 a.m. Thursday, officers responded to Maxine's, 700 Central Ave., in reference to a disorderly person, later identified as Nesbett. Officers made contact with the victim, who said Nesbett had been yelling and swearing at the bartender. He was asked to leave by employees, but refused.
When he refused, the victim told Nesbett he was "a federal officer" and it was best he leave. Nesbett then pushed the victim and punched him in the face. He then went outside and took his clothes off while yelling profanities, then ran south on Central, got in his vehicle and left.
Officers observed the victim had a red and black bruise under his left eye, red scratches around his neck and a swollen busted lip which he said were caused by Nesbett punching him.
Nesbett returned to the bar while officers were on scene and claimed he was attacked by the victim when he was making people leave the bar. He said the victim "pulled his badge out" and hit him in the back of the neck, and he "defended" himself in response.
Local on 06/24/2017