A local man and woman were each arrested on felony charges Saturday morning after an altercation during which a gun was fired with their juvenile daughter present.
David Gage McDaniel, 37, and Monica Renee Buller, 38, both of 407 Henry St., Apt. 7, were taken into custody at their residence shortly before 11 a.m. and charged with aggravated assault on a family or household member and first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, each punishable by up to six years in prison.
McDaniel, a felon, was also charged with a felony count of possession of a firearm by certain persons, punishable by up to six years, and cited for discharging a firearm in the city limits.
McDaniel remained in custody Monday in lieu of $7,500 bond while Buller was being held on $5,000 bond with both set to appear Feb. 26 in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, around 10:45 a.m. Saturday, Hot Springs police responded to the Henry Street residence regarding shots fired inside the apartment and set up a perimeter around the residence. The sole occupant of the house at that time, identified as McDaniel, came out through the front door and was detained.
McDaniel reportedly made a spontaneous statement that his girlfriend, identified as Buller, had pointed a gun at him just prior to officers arrival and told them where they could find the gun. A .38-caliber handgun was found on top of a mobile closet in the bedroom as indicated and it was noted there was one spent casing in the cylinder.
Buller was found nearby in the apartment complex parking lot and also detained. She reportedly stated the altercation with McDaniel started Friday with the two arguing and alleged he had pointed the gun at her and threatened to kill her.
She said McDaniel then put the gun inside his mouth and pulled the trigger several times. She noted their daughter was in the residence at the time. She said she left at that point, leaving the daughter with McDaniel. When she returned around 10:30 a.m. Saturday, she found the gun on a bed within reach of their daughter.
She said she put the gun in her purse and she and McDaniel began arguing again. She allegedly stated she removed the gun at one point and aimed it at McDaniel's head. A struggle ensued and McDaniel grabbed the gun from her so she took her daughter and left. Shortly after she and the daughter left, she said she heard a single gunshot from inside the apartment.
A witness reportedly told police he walked around the front of the couple's apartment and saw the two of them arguing He said he saw McDaniel go back inside and then moments later he heard a gunshot.
McDaniel later told Detective John Hammons that Buller had brandished a gun at him while threatening to leave the apartment. He said he took the gun from her after a brief struggle and she then took their child. He said he followed her outside where he encountered their neighbor, the witness, so he slammed the door and went back inside.
He said the neighbor was "beating on his door" so he grabbed the gun and it went off as he was trying to pick it up. He said the police arrived shortly after the gun was fired. Computer records show McDaniel was convicted of a felony count of possession of drug paraphernalia in 2011 in Yell County and prohibited from possessing a firearm.
Buller told Hammons McDaniel had put the gun in his mouth in front of their daughter who later told her, "Daddy go boom." She reportedly admitted to later pointing the gun at him and threatening him to leave the residence.
Buller had previously filed a petition for an order of protection from McDaniel on Aug. 8, 2017, alleging that he had assaulted her and made death threats. She reportedly failed to appear at a hearing on the matter on Sept. 26, 2017, and the case was dismissed the next day.
• A routine traffic stop resulted in the arrest of a local man and woman on felony drug charges Friday afternoon.
Juwan Diego Mitchell, 27, and Jasmine Shay Knotts, 21, who both list an address of 807 Illinois St., were taken into custody shortly after 2:30 p.m. and charged with possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, with purpose to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia, each punishable by up to six years in prison, and a misdemeanor count of possession of an open container of alcohol in a motor vehicle.
They were each later released on $5,500 bond and are set to appear Feb. 26 in district court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Officers Shawn Stone and Morgan Murray stopped a gold 1999 Toyota Camry in the 400 block of Hollywood Avenue after noting the license plate had expired in November 2018.
The passenger, later identified as Mitchell, immediately got out and attempted to walk away, but was ordered back and complied. Stone then made contact with the driver, identified as Knotts, and both officers reportedly noted an odor of marijuana coming from the vehicle and an open can of malt liquor in the center console.
In searching the vehicle, officers allegedly found two bags of marijuana, a total of 50.3 grams, wrapped inside a black jacket behind the driver's seat. Under the jacket, they found a set of digital scales. Several empty plastic baggies were found in the car's side pockets.
Stone states he heard Mitchell tell Knotts to "take one," and moments later she stated the marijuana belonged to her.
In addition to the felony charges, Knotts was also cited for no driver's license, no liability insurance and fictitious tags.
Local on 02/19/2019