A Hot Springs man sought on a battery charge from December was arrested early Sunday after allegedly fleeing from a traffic stop and continuing to resist until Hot Springs police used a Taser on him.
D'Roj Kentrell Tollette, 22, who lists a Pleasant Street address, was taken into custody shortly after 2 a.m. and charged with misdemeanor counts of third-degree domestic battery and possession of a controlled substance, each punishable by up to a year in jail, refusal to submit to arrest, punishable by up to 90 days, and fleeing, punishable by up to 30 days.
Tollette remained in custody Monday in lieu of bonds totaling $4,750 and is set to appear April 4 in Garland County District Court.
According to the affidavits, on Dec. 21, 2016, shortly before 10:30 a.m., HSPD officers responded to a battery that had already occurred at a residence in the 300 block of Potter Street. The female victim alleged that around midnight she heard a knock on her door and saw Tollette, who is the father of her child, outside her apartment and noted he was screaming obscenities and causing a scene.
She said she tried to go next door to borrow a phone to call police, but Tollette pushed her while she was holding her child. She said she pushed him back and then he hit her three times, once on each side of her face and once on the bridge of her nose.
The responding officer noted a 1.5-inch scratch on the left side of the victim's face and she stated Tollette had scratched her when he attempted to hit her.
HSPD Detective Patrick Langley reviewed photos of the victim and a battery warrant for Tollette's arrest was issued.
Around 1:30 a.m. Sunday, HSPD Officer Zachary Brown responded to assist other officers at a traffic stop initiated at Central Avenue and Maurice Street. As he pulled up he saw a man, later identified as Tollette, exit the passenger side of the vehicle and flee on foot toward Brad Street.
Brown commanded Tollette to stop, but he refused, so Brown pursued him on foot into the backyard of a residence at Brad and Maurice Streets where Tollette reportedly jumped a fence and ran behind a vehicle.
Brown continued to order Tollette to stop, but he allegedly continued to flee. Brown warned him he would have to deploy his Taser if he didn't stop, but Tollette ignored him and Brown deployed his Taser, briefly incapacitating him.
After the Taser's five-second charge, Brown ordered Tollette to remain on the ground with his hands visible, but Tollette stood and ran again. Brown reportedly deployed his Taser two more times with Tollette getting back up each time and continuing to run.
The officer pursued Tollette for about 30 more yards and Tollette finally fell to the ground and was taken into custody. Tollette reportedly admitted he was in possession of marijuana and had warrants for his arrest. Upon a search, 14.2 grams of marijuana was allegedly found inside Tollette's pants pocket.
• A Hot Springs man was arrested early Sunday after allegedly punching his wife in the face.
Anthony Lee May Jr., 26, of 315 Cones Road, Apt. A, was taken into custody near his residence around 2:30 a.m. and charged with third-degree domestic battery, a misdemeanor punishable by up to a year in jail. He remained in custody Monday in lieu of zero bond and is set to appear April 4 in district court.
According to the affidavit, HSPD Officer Thomas Plummer responded to May's apartment in reference to a battery. Upon arrival, May's wife said he had thrown a phone at her arm and punched her in the face multiple times, causing an injury to her forehead and pain in her face and arm.
She said she held her hands above her face when trying to block May's fists. Plummer noted a golf ball-sized knot on her forehead above her eye.
Plummer located May at the intersection of Cones Road and Hudgins Circle, sitting inside a vehicle, immediately after leaving the residence. He noted May had scratches on his ear and forehead.
Local on 03/28/2017