A parole absconder who was the number one fugitive being sought as part of a warrant roundup was apprehended late Tuesday after a lengthy manhunt, a fugitive task force team leader said Wednesday.
Kenno Augusta Forrest, 33, who was reportedly homeless, was arrested on a warrant for a parole violation at around 10:30 p.m. Tuesday at the intersection of Ault Loop and Highway 128, said Brandon Emerson, Southwest Arkansas team leader with the Arkansas Community Correction Special Response Team.
"He was the number one guy we were after" because of his history of fleeing and resisting arrest, he said.
"He consumed about 80 percent of our manpower for the entire day (Tuesday)" as a multi-jurisdictional task force made up of 20 to 25 officers from all over the state searched for him and chased him.
"The team hit one place he was found to be at and he fled out a door. We weren't able to get our hands on him, he's so fast," Emerson said. "Through tips and surveillance, we were able to spot him coming out of the woods at another location and getting in a car."
He said Forrest got in the back of the two-door car, driven by a female, and they were able to block her in at the intersection and stop her vehicle. "He was in the back seat, so he wasn't going anywhere and finally surrendered."
Forrest's arrest was part of a warrant roundup in and around Hot Springs which began last week, resulting in the arrest of 26 suspects on multiple felony charges, which was announced at a news conference April 16. Emerson noted the roundup is still ongoing and more arrests are expected.
Officers with the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force, under the direction of Prosecuting Attorney Michelle Lawrence, coordinated the roundup with the Garland County Sheriff's Department and its Criminal Investigation Special Operations Unit, the Hot Springs Police Department and its Special Investigation Division, the 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.
Forrest had pleaded guilty on Feb. 16, 2016, to nine felony counts, including three counts of aggravated assault and fleeing stemming from a crime spree in January 2015 that prompted a manhunt and lockdowns at Cutter Morning Star and Lakeside schools.
He was sentenced to six years on each count, to run concurrently, fined $1,000 and ordered to pay $17,408 in restitution for all the damage he caused. He had since been paroled.
Forrest is classified as a habitual offender, having been previously convicted, all in Drew County, in 2001 of two counts of residential burglary and five counts of breaking or entering; in 2009, of possession with intent to manufacture; in 2010, of second-degree battery; and in 2012, of residential burglary, theft of property and two counts of first-degree criminal mischief.
The string of events leading to his arrest began Jan. 23, 2015, when he stole gas from Fountain Lake School, 4207 Park Ave. A school employee followed him off campus and Forrest fired one shot at him before fleeing. He was later spotted on Spring Street and pursued by sheriff's deputies, ramming one deputy's unit at one point and driving through a fence at the CMS school playground before fleeing on foot, prompting the manhunt and lockdowns.
Two days later, he stole a 2003 Ford Escort and ended up in another pursuit with a sheriff's deputy before abandoning the vehicle after getting stuck in a field off East Goat Hill Road and fleeing again on foot. A 2002 Honda Accord was reported stolen the next day from Sawdust Trail, near the area where Forrest fled.
On Jan. 26, 2015, Forrest was spotted driving the Honda at the intersection of highways 5 and 7, but eluded capture again. He was later spotted near Ranch Estates and multiple law enforcement agencies searched the area for six hours. The Honda was found wrecked on Warren Watson Road and Forrest's wallet was found inside.
Forrest was finally taken into custody the next evening when ASP Trooper Brandon Cook made a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Forrest's cousin. Forrest was in the passenger seat and pushed his cousin from the truck and fled again before being apprehended by Cook.
Local on 04/26/2018