Homeless man charged with fleeing, resisting

Bray
Bray

A reportedly homeless man was charged with resisting arrest and fleeing after allegedly causing a disturbance at his mother's house and then fighting with Hot Springs police Thursday night.

Devon Nathaniel Bray, 30, who lists no permanent address, was taken into custody shortly after 8:30 p.m. and charged with misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and second-degree criminal mischief, each punishable by up to one year in jail, and fleeing and he had two warrants for failure to appear.

Bray remained in custody Friday in lieu of bonds totaling $5,500 and appeared in Garland County District Court.

According to the affidavit, police responded to a residence on Webb Lane to a disturbance. Officer Jason Greene spoke to the homeowner, who stated that her son, identified as Bray, had entered her home without permission.

She said he smashed her cellphone and punched holes in the walls, causing an estimated $1,000 worth of damage, and then ran to a house across the street where he was hiding. A computer check revealed the failure to appear warrants.

As Greene approached the neighboring house, an occupant came out and told him Bray was running out the rear of the residence. Greene ran to the rear and saw Bray running south toward Airport Road. He yelled at Bray to stop, but he allegedly ignored his commands to stop and the officer lost sight of him as Bray jumped over several fences.

At that point, officers Rod West and Tyler Cox were also responding and spotted Bray running and made contact with him in the 500 block of Airport Road. West ordered him to get on the ground several times, but he allegedly refused to comply, repeatedly shouting, "You want me to get on the ground?"

West said he displayed his Taser and repeated his command, but Bray still wouldn't get down and would again yell, "You want me to get on the ground?" He said he holstered his Taser and approached Bray and pushed him to the ground, but he rose back up and struck West in the midsection.

At that point, Cox jumped on Bray's back to keep him from hitting West, who pulled out his Taser again and cautioned Cox to back away. He then discharged the Taser, striking Bray in the chest and belly, delivering a full charge.

Bray fell to the ground and West ordered him to get on his stomach, but Bray started shouting, "I can't (expletive) breathe!" He finally rolled on his stomach and Cox attempted to handcuff him, but he allegedly continued to resist while shouting, "Do you want me to comply?"

He continued to resist so West discharged his Taser again, but it had no effect. Bray allegedly yelled, "It fell off into the dirt (expletive)!" West then placed the Taser against Bray's right calf and delivered another jolt and he finally complied and was taken into custody without further incident.

Local on 01/20/2018

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