A local man who allegedly stole a vehicle was arrested by Hot Springs police about 30 minutes after the theft following a brief vehicle pursuit and short manhunt Friday afternoon.
Joseph D. Brown, 29, was taken into custody around 1:30 p.m. and charged with a felony count of theft of property more than $2,500, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and felony fleeing, punishable by up to six years in prison.
A 2002 Dodge Ram pickup was reported stolen and about 30 minutes later, Officer Richard Nunez spotted the vehicle at the intersection of West St. Louis and Seventh streets and got behind it, Cpl. Kirk Zaner said Friday.
"The truck was going northbound on Seventh and (Nunez) started following it," Zaner said. "He hadn't even turned on his lights and it took off at a high rate of speed so then he activated his lights and siren."
A short pursuit ensued where they basically circled the block and then the driver, later identified as Brown, stopped the vehicle in the 1300 block of Summer Street, jumped out and fled on foot.
Zaner said officers quickly set up a perimeter around the area and then Sgt. Sonia Luzader and Officer 1st Class Brian Branstetter spotted Brown within about five or six minutes and took him into custody without incident.
Zaner said Brown was being held on $6,000 bond. Brown was previously arrested Tuesday on a felony charge of breaking or entering and a misdemeanor count of second-degree criminal mischief. He had pleaded not guilty to the charges Wednesday in Garland County District Court and was later released on $13,500 bond with a felony review hearing set for May 21.
Local on 04/14/2018