Multiple law enforcement agencies participated in a warrant roundup in and around the Hot Springs area Monday, resulting in the arrest of 25 suspects on multiple felony charges, Garland County Prosecutor Michelle Lawrence announced Tuesday at a news conference.
Officers with the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force, under the direction of Lawrence, coordinated the event with the Garland County Sheriff's Department and its Criminal Investigation Special Operations Unit, the Hot Springs Police Department and its Special Investigation Division, Arkansas Community Correction Special Response Team, Arkansas State Police, Homeland Security Investigations, the U.S. Marshal's Service, Diplomatic Security Service and the Garland County Detention Center.
In addition to the 25 arrests, Lawrence said the agencies recovered drug paraphernalia, 66 grams of meth, 39 grams of marijuana, one shotgun, a "sawed-off" shotgun and a defaced handgun.
During the news conference, which was held at the Garland County Sheriff's Department, Lawrence said about four months of work went into the investigations leading to the arrests. "We will have roundups like this fairly often" as needed in the future, she noted.
HSPD Sgt. Chris Hays, who is the DTF coordinator, said Monday's operation is part of "a continual effort" by the various agencies, but stressed "we're not on a certain time schedule."
"Two years ago we embarked on a new initiative to try to reduce crime in the city and refocus our resources on things like our inner city drug unit and also increasing our staffing levels at the drug task force," City Manager David Frasher said. "That's starting to pay off and we're really grateful for the partnerships we have and will be talking about additional activities like this one moving forward."
"We will continue sending a very strong message to the criminal element within Garland County and within our community that this type of activity will not be tolerated," Garland County Sheriff Mike McCormick said.
"We're looking at a very aggressive prosecution schedule and looking for maximum time with all these individuals," McCormick said.
McCormick said he wanted to thank all the agencies "who worked so hard and diligently together," including the state and federal officers who participated in addition to the police and sheriff's departments.
"Many, many people were involved in having this program be as successful as it has been. One agency cannot do it alone. We are one community and have to remember that and pull together as one community and will continue seeing results as what we've seen here today," he said.
"The man hours that it took alone to prepare all these warrants and everything is a big credit to all the guys involved," Hot Springs police Capt. Walt Everton said.
"The actual boots on the ground with all the different agencies is what made this operation a success and sent a message to the community that if you are using drugs or selling drugs the next knock is gonna be on your door."
Those arrested, their ages, if available, and charges included the following:
Jalontae L. Blevins, 20, residential burglary, terroristic threatening and first-degree criminal mischief; Michael D. Collins Jr., 19, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver, possession of a defaced firearm, residential burglary and terroristic threatening; Carmen Koloc, possession of a controlled substance; Amanda Reed, identity theft; Latori Sanders, second-degree forgery, theft by receiving; and Antwon L. Burns, 35, violation of terms of probation.
Jason Lyon, delivery of meth; Timothy Ray Burton Sr., 57, possession of a counterfeit substance, possession of firearm by certain persons; Jake L. Conway, 30, delivery of meth, two counts, fraudulent use of a communications device, two counts, possession of drug paraphernalia, two counts; unauthorized use of another person's property, possession of meth or cocaine with the purpose to deliver; Matthew L. Cannon, delivery of meth; and Krystal Elizabeth Fulton, 33, theft by receiving.
Kaitlynn Marie McIntosh, 26, second-degree forgery and obtaining controlled substance by fraud; Devin William Westin, 34, violation of probation or parole and residential burglary; Freeman M. Loy, 39, violation of probation or parole; Michelle Young, theft of property; Vincent Remaldo Sanders, 20, possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of drug paraphernalia, endangering the welfare of a minor and possession of a defaced firearm.
Marquista Paschal, 20, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of a defaced firearm, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver and endangering the welfare of a minor; Danny R. Bishop, 30, possession of meth with purpose to deliver; Ashley Jensen, delivery of meth; Jason K. Frazier, 46, delivery of meth; Dustin Bradbury, second-degree forgery; and Keith Willis, delivery of meth.
Lawrence noted there was also a juvenile arrested for simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of a defaced firearm, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver.
The Sentinel-Record follows The Associated Press privacy policies and does not publish the names of juvenile offenders unless they are charged as adults.
Five of the suspects, including Jalontae Blevins, Michael D. Collins Jr., Marquista Paschal, Vincent Sanders and the juvenile, 17, were arrested between 1:30 and 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at a residence at 131 Liberty St. after investigators developed information Collins and Blevins, who were being sought on multiple warrants, were "frequenting" that house.
Collins and Blevins were both being sought for allegedly forcing their way into a local woman's home on the afternoon of Dec. 19, threatening her mother and others and firing a gun at the woman's residence while driving past it later that night.
Their alleged accomplice, Cedrix Noah Griffin, 30, who is on parole, was arrested Dec. 20 on charges of residential burglary, three counts of terroristic threatening and criminal mischief, the same as Collins and Sanders, and had pleaded not guilty to the charges Feb. 26, 2018. He is set to appear Monday in Garland County Circuit Court on the charges.
After arresting Blevins at the Liberty Street residence, officers continued surveillance and observed a silver Mercury Grand Marquis, occupied by Collins, Paschal, Sanders and the juvenile, pull into the driveway. Investigators reportedly noticed a handgun in the front seat between the driver, Sanders, and the juvenile front seat passenger.
The handgun, a loaded 9-mm with an extended magazine, had the serial number filed off, the affidavit states. Investigators also reportedly found a glass jar containing 20.5 grams of suspected marijuana and multiple baggies.
Also in the vehicle was a 5-week-old baby who was allegedly sitting next to a container that had a baggie with 16.4 grams of marijuana and digital scales. Department of Human Services workers came and took custody of the baby.
Sanders also allegedly had a baggie of marijuana and $272 in cash on his person and Collins had $184 in cash on his person.
Another of the suspects arrested Monday, Danny Ray Bishop, 30, was arrested in the 200 block of Wynn Street around 1:45 p.m. after investigators went there looking for another person on warrants.
Upon arrival, they spotted a black Volvo and asked the driver, Bishop, if he had seen the wanted suspect. He told them he had not seen the suspect, but was allegedly stuttering and making spontaneous movements. He was told to keep his hands out of his pockets and when he pulled his hand out he was holding a small zippered bag.
Bishop allegedly opened the bag and removed a plastic baggie containing what later tested positive for 4.9 grams of meth and attempted to pour it out on the ground and threw it over his shoulder. An ID check revealed Bishop to be on active supervision through the Department of Community Correction.
During a search of his vehicle, officers allegedly located multiple baggies with an estimated total of 66 grams of meth, a pipe and a set of digital scales.
Derrick D. Jackson was also arrested while investigators were initially looking for another suspect. According to the probable cause affidavit, a DTF agent went to 301 Ostego to serve a warrant and made contact with a man who said the people he was looking for were not there, but he would ask his friend who was also in the house.
Jackson spoke to the agent and an ID check revealed he had a warrant for child support. While being placed under arrest, a baggie containing what later tested positive for 2.3 grams of meth, was allegedly found next to Jackson's shoes.
Local on 04/18/2018