A local man was arrested Thursday after leading a Hot Springs police officer on a brief vehicle and foot pursuit and wrecking his vehicle into a fence.
Cletus Demont Davis Jr., 24, a convicted felon who lists a Windy Hills address, was taken into custody just after noon Thursday and charged with a felony count of possession of a firearm by certain persons, punishable by up to six years in prison, and misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana and fleeing, each punishable by up to one year in jail.
He was being held in lieu of a $4,500 bond and is set to appear in Garland County District Court on April 24.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Officer Jonathan Smith observed a blue Hyundai Tiburon fail to yield at a stop sign and "almost strike a white passenger car" near the intersection of Gaines and East Maurice streets. As he attempted to conduct a traffic stop, the driver reportedly accelerated and continued to disregard traffic signs.
At one point, Smith lost sight of the vehicle but located it disabled a short time later at the intersection of Malvern Avenue and Moore Street. The vehicle struck a fence at 836 Malvern Ave., and the suspect, later identified as Davis, fled on foot.
Smith exited his patrol unit with his K-9 partner, Bear, and began to chase Davis. Smith reportedly warned Davis several times that if he did not "give up" Bear would be released. Davis allegedly ignored the officer's commands.
At one point, Davis jumped a chain-link fence at a residence on the corner of Helwig and East Maurice Street and reportedly attempted to gain entry into the house. After he failed to get in, he jumped the fence again where he was met by Smith, who had pulled out his Taser.
Davis complied with the officer's commands and was taken into custody without further incident.
During a search of the vehicle, officers reportedly located a .45-caliber Thompson pistol in the driver's side floorboard. Around 4 grams of suspected marijuana was reportedly located inside Davis' front pants pocket.
Davis had a previous felony charge of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms in 2014. He was reportedly transported to the police department where the criminal investigations division assumed the investigation.
Local on 04/13/2018