A local man was arrested Saturday on felony and misdemeanor charges for allegedly stealing a vehicle and other crimes after a short manhunt during which a Hot Springs police K-9 tracked him through the woods.
Craig Alan Bass, 31, who lists a Lakeland Drive address, was taken into custody around 5 p.m. and charged with a felony count of theft of property more than $1,000, punishable by up to six years in prison, and misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and fleeing on foot.
Bass remained in custody in lieu of $3,750 bond and was set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, around 4 p.m. Saturday, police responded to the Shell Station, 3201 Central Ave., after a man reported the theft of his black 2006 Chevrolet Impala, valued at $3,000.
The man said he went inside the gas station when an unknown man, later identified as Bass, jumped in his vehicle and drove away, headed south on Central. The victim followed the suspect and his vehicle to the Mapco station, 4139 Central Ave., where he confronted him inside.
Bass fled from the store on foot headed east on Lakeland Drive. Officer Jonathan Smith had just arrived at the Mapco and saw Bass fleeing and chased him on foot toward a wooded area.
At 4:30 p.m., Cpl. Brandon Jones and his K-9 partner, Keena, responded and Keena began tracking the suspect from the last location where he was seen. After several minutes, they located a shirt that Smith noted matched the one Bass had been wearing.
A short time later, they located Bass lying facedown near Lakeland and noted he was keeping his hands under his chest. Jones drew his weapon and ordered Bass to show him his hands, but he refused.
Keena then "made apprehension" on the suspect's left calf and, at that point, Bass sat up and put both his hands up. Keena released him and Bass was taken into custody without further incident.
The owner of the stolen vehicle told police his friend had discovered some medications missing from her backpack that had been in his vehicle when it was stolen. Police searched Bass and the area where he was located, but the medications were not found.
Local on 03/06/2018