Hot Springs police on Tuesday arrested the first of three suspects sought in the Dec. 11, 2018, assault and robbery of a 74-year-old veteran, a crime that led to an outpouring of offers to help the victim from the public.
De'Andre Tre'von Woods, 20, of 108 Bailey Place, Apt. A-2, was taken into custody at his residence around 8:45 a.m. Tuesday and charged with felony counts of aggravated residential burglary and aggravated robbery, each punishable by up to life in prison, and second-degree battery and theft of property, each punishable by up to six years in prison.
Woods, who had no prior felony history according to court records, was being held on zero bond and is set to appear Jan. 22 in Garland County District Court, although he will likely be arraigned before then.
The victim, Jack Milton, told officers three black males had forced entry into his home in the 900 block of Park Avenue and struck him several times with tire irons and blunt wood objects. The suspects stole his wallet that contained personal documents, a debit card and cash, police said in a news release.
Cpl. Joey Williams, the department's public relations officer, said Tuesday the case was still under investigation and police are seeking to identify and locate the other two suspects allegedly involved in the attack. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 501-321-6789.
According to the probable cause affidavit for Woods' arrest, on Dec. 11, shortly before 5:30 p.m., Milton told police he was sitting in his living room with his front door open, but the screen door locked. Three unknown black males came to the door and asked for directions to "Central Park," through the screen door.
One of the males "lured" Milton to unlock the screen door so he could point in the direction of the park. Once the screen door was unlocked, the door was forced open. One of the males began hitting Milton with a tire iron while the other two used wooden "limbs or clubs," striking him repeatedly in the face and body.
Once Milton was on the ground, the suspects also kicked him in the ribs while reportedly yelling, "Give me your money!" as they continued striking him. Milton sustained multiple lacerations to his face from the attack and swelling to his head.
Milton told police he could identify the suspect that grabbed the door from his hand and did most of the talking.
Detectives Hunter Scott and John Hammons responded to the victim's apartment to process the scene and canvas the area for witnesses. They spoke to one witness who reportedly saw three males running from Milton's porch and noted one was wearing a red jacket and looked back at the witness, yelling at the other two that the witness was "calling the cops."
The witness reportedly got a good look at the male's face and would be able to identify him, the affidavit states.
While on foot canvassing the area of Park Place Apartments, 108 Bailey Place, the detectives observed three males who matched the general description given by the victim and witness, including one wearing a red jacket, who walked out of apartment A-2 and got in a red Toyota.
A patrol officer later located the vehicle, developed probable cause to make a traffic stop and was able to identify Woods and two other males occupying the vehicle.
Hammons collected video from local businesses in the area of the incident that showed the same three males running north on Mountain Valley from the area of Milton's residence. The males turned east on Reid Street, back north onto Park, then east on Bloom. Video from Park Place reportedly showed the three walking through the lot and going up the stairs to Woods' apartment just prior to the detectives searching the area.
On Jan. 1, Milton came to the police department and was shown a photo lineup of six similar looking males, including Woods, and he reportedly identified Woods as one of the males, describing his actions as "leading the attack."
That same day, the witness was shown the photo lineup and also reportedly identified Woods as the male seen fleeing the scene, wearing a red jacket.
A Facebook post by police seeking the public's help in locating the suspects resulted in a large outpouring of support and offers to help. Hammons established an account for Milton at Arvest Bank. Donations can be made at any Arvest location to the name Jack W. Milton (1309) or dropped off at the police department.
Local on 01/09/2019