A convicted felon arrested Saturday afternoon on multiple felony charges after allegedly kidnapping his ex-girlfriend at gunpoint and fleeing from Hot Springs police was released Monday morning on $50,000 bond after appearing in Garland County District Court.
Michael Shane Duchac, 38, who lists a Quapaw Avenue address, was taken into custody shortly before 1 p.m. Saturday and charged with aggravated residential burglary and kidnapping, each punishable by up to life in prison, possession of a firearm by certain persons, punishable by up to 20 years, and theft by receiving of a firearm and fleeing, each punishable by up to six years.
He was initially held on zero bond but after appearing in district court and pleading not guilty to the charges his bond was set at $50,000. He posted bond and was released. He is set to appear at another hearing in district court on Aug. 7.
In addition to the felony charges, Duchac was also cited with misdemeanor counts of reckless driving, careless and prohibited driving, two counts of failure to stop or yield at intersections, no seat belt and driving the wrong way on a one-way road, stemming from the pursuit by police, and contempt of court for violation of a no-contact order.
According to the probable cause affidavit, police responded to an apartment on Garland Avenue in reference to a report of a kidnapping that just occurred and were told by a male witness that a known suspect, identified as Duchac, had gained unauthorized entry to his residence and was standing in his living room holding a handgun and a large knife.
The witness said Duchac pointed the gun and knife at him and when he confronted him and told him to get out of his home, Duchac told him he was "just here to get her." At that point, the other occupant of the apartment, Crystal Ault, 36, who was in the bedroom, came into the living room to confront Duchac, identified as her ex-boyfriend.
When she entered the room, Duchac allegedly grabbed her by the arm and forced her to leave the apartment with him while still holding the gun. Ault later told police Duchac forced her to get into his vehicle, a green 1974 Chevrolet pickup, and then fled the scene.
Patrol officers in the area located Duchac's vehicle near the intersection of Hazel Street and Quapaw Avenue and attempted to make contact with him, but he fled north on Quapaw with Ault in the front passenger seat.
Duchac allegedly reached speeds of 60 mph while fleeing from officers and violated multiple traffic laws before finally stopping in the 200 block of Court Street where he was taken into custody without further incident and officers located Ault in the front seat uninjured.
Officers found a large knife inside the vehicle, but could not locate a firearm. While backtracking the route of the pursuit, officers located a 9-mm semi-automatic handgun on the ground about 50 yards from where Duchac finally stopped.
Ault later told police Duchac had made "several throwing motions" with his arm during the pursuit. The handgun was found to have been reported stolen in Garland County and a computer check showed Duchac was previously convicted of a felony in Cross County and prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm.
It was also discovered Ault had obtained a valid order of protection prohibiting Duchac from having any contact with her, which was issued May 22 in district court.
Local on 07/31/2018