A Missouri man was charged with felony battery, reckless driving and driving while intoxicated Sunday after he allegedly rear-ended a motorcycle, seriously injuring two people.
Brock Matthew Bell, 20, who lists a Piedmont, Mo., address, was arrested around 5:30 p.m. Sunday and charged with two counts of second-degree battery, a felony punishable by up to six years in prison, and misdemeanor counts of reckless driving and driving while intoxicated, first offense.
He was later released on $6,000 bond and is set to appear in Garland County District Court on Feb. 5.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Arkansas State Police Cpl. Andrew Ault responded to a wreck on Highway 7 near Amity Road shortly after 5 p.m. Sunday and, upon arrival, observed a Ford SUV that had reportedly rear-ended a motorcycle.
The two people who were on the motorcycle were taken to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs with suspected serious injuries, the affidavit said.
A strong odor of alcohol was coming from the SUV, according to the affidavit. When Ault asked the occupants if they had been drinking, the driver, later identified as Bell, reportedly said he had not, and the passenger stated she had.
Ault reportedly noticed several beer cans in the back seat and noted Bell had bloodshot eyes and slurred speech. Bell allegedly refused to take a breathalyzer test at first, but when he finally did, it reportedly indicated he had been drinking.
Bell and the passenger were separated and interviewed separately. During the interview with Bell, he reportedly stated he had been drinking beer and his last drink was more than an hour before the wreck. The passenger reportedly affirmed his statement. Both individuals also reportedly denied drinking alcohol after the wreck had occurred.
Ault began to conduct a field sobriety test on Bell but after failing part of the test, he allegedly refused to take any further tests and Ault placed him into custody and took him to the Garland County Detention Center.
Local on 01/23/2018