A Hot Springs man was arrested on felony charges early Sunday after allegedly threatening two men at gunpoint, shooting one man in the foot and shooting the tires of their truck.
Steven Duane Ball, 63, of 3910 Central Ave., Lot 9, was taken into custody at his residence around 2:15 a.m. and charged with aggravated assault and second-degree battery, each punishable by up to six years in prison.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 2 a.m. Sunday, Hot Springs police responded to Ball's residence regarding a shooting and upon arrival made contact with Ball, who was standing in the roadway in front of his residence.
Ball reportedly had two men at gunpoint lying prone on the grass in front of his property. Ball dropped his weapon and complied with officers. Officers learned the two men had arrived at Ball's address uninvited and Ball had confronted one of the men in the driveway and requested that they leave his property.
A short argument ensued and the one man reportedly refused to leave and then struck Ball on the left side of his face, causing a cut on his nose and cheek and breaking his glasses.
At that point, Ball asked a female passer-by to call police and she called 911 as Ball went back inside his residence and retrieved his .40-caliber Desert Eagle handgun.
Ball allegedly exited the residence and shot the front and rear driver's side tires of the pickup truck the men had arrived in, flattening both tires. The affidavit notes both men were inside the truck when the tires were shot.
Ball then reportedly ordered the two men to get out of the truck. When the one man who had reportedly hit Ball got out on the front passenger side, Ball allegedly shot him once in the right foot.
At that point, both men obeyed Ball's commands to get on the ground and lie prone until police arrived. The report notes the man's injury was non life-threatening and he was transported to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs for treatment.
Ball was taken into custody without incident and later released on $5,000 bond. He is set to appear Feb. 26 in Garland County District Court. Court records indicate he has no prior felony history.
Local on 02/19/2019