An investigation into a fire inside an apartment early Sunday resulted in the arrest of a local felon allegedly found hiding outside in a car with a gun and a small amount of drugs.
Akeejae Cardell Bryant, 22, of 118 Garland Ave., Apt. A, was taken into custody outside his apartment shortly after 3:30 a.m. and charged with a felony count of possession of a firearm by certain persons, punishable by up to six years in prison, and misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
He was being held on a $4,500 bond and was set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 2 a.m. Sunday, Hot Springs police responded to the apartment regarding a fire inside. While investigating the fire, officers found evidence suggesting a 9-mm firearm had been discharged inside including a television and a dresser in the living room that appeared to have been shot.
It was evident from the entry and exit holes that the bullet traveled from inside the house, struck the items and then traveled outside of the apartment through a south-facing window. They spoke to a female resident and determined her son, identified as Bryant, had been in the residence briefly before officers arrived and had left.
While checking for evidence outside, Officer Tifani McCauley found Bryant lying down in the back seat of a 2008 Dodge Caravan parked in front of the apartment. He was allegedly "evasive in his answers" about whether he was involved with the shots fired or why he was hiding in the vehicle while officers and firefighters were on the property.
A computer check showed Bryant was found guilty of a felony in Garland County Circuit Court on May 15, 2017, and had an active search waiver on file as a condition of probation. McCauley also got the consent of Bryant's mother to search the vehicle which she owns.
Officers reportedly found a backpack on the floor near where Bryant was found hiding which contained a loaded 9-mm. Bryant's mother reportedly confirmed she had seen him with the same backpack inside the apartment earlier and in possession of the same gun before.
During a further search, a marijuana pipe and 0.2 gram of marijuana were found on his person. While being driven to the jail, Bryant allegedly stated he carried the gun "for his protection."
Local on 10/08/2019