A local felon was arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges Thursday night after allegedly firing a gun in the air during an argument with a woman on the street outside his residence.
Kevon Latrell Barenes, 19, who listed a Linwood Street address, was taken into custody near his residence shortly after 8 p.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 discharging a firearm in the city limits and disorderly conduct.
Barenes, who also had warrants failure to comply and absconding out of Clark County, was being held on zero bond and was set to appear Friday afternoon in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 8 p.m., Hot Springs police were dispatched to the area of Linwood and South streets regarding a disturbance. Dispatch advised they had received numerous 911 calls regarding a black male wearing a red backpack and no shirt firing two rounds from a gun.
Officer Tyree Sampson arrived and saw a male matching the description, later identified as Barenes, at the corner of Linwood and Hobson Avenue and had him sit on the curb while he removed his backpack.
Sampson explained about the complaints they received and Barenes reportedly told him there was a pistol inside the backpack. Officers searched the backpack and located a silver and purple 9-mm which had one round in the chamber and two rounds in the magazine. Barenes reportedly admitted to firing it earlier.
A computer check revealed the warrants for his Barenes, so he was taken into custody at that point. A further check revealed he was convicted of felony counts of theft by receiving and fleeing on Nov. 6, 2018, and prohibited from owning or possessing a firearm.
Sampson spoke to a woman at the scene who reportedly confirmed seeing Barenes fire a gun in the air. She said he got irate with her and told her, "On Crip, I'll fight a (expletive)." She said Barenes started walking off and then fired two shots in the air at the corner of Linwood and South near Jones School.
Officers reportedly located two casings at the intersection of Linwood and South, and noted one casing was from a 9-mm, the same brand and caliber bullet found in the chamber of the gun recovered from his backpack.
Local on 07/20/2019