A parolee was arrested on multiple felony charges following a brief manhunt Tuesday morning after fleeing from Hot Springs police and wrecking his vehicle, which allegedly held over half a pound of meth.
Joshua Edward Gross, 35, who lists a Crest Street address, was taken into custody shortly before 9:30 a.m. and charged with felony charges of trafficking a controlled substance, meth, punishable by up to life in prison, possession of drug paraphernalia and unauthorized use of another person's property to facilitate a crime, each punishable by up to 20 years, and fleeing in a vehicle, punishable by up to six years.
Gross, who was also being sought on multiple warrants, was also charged with misdemeanor counts of fleeing on foot, second-degree criminal mischief and possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver and cited for careless and prohibited driving, disobeying a stop sign, driving on a suspended driver's license and no proof of insurance.
He was being held on zero bond including a parole hold and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Officer Tyler Ward was patrolling in the area of Park and Whittington avenues when he saw a black 2012 GMC that had been reported earlier as being driven without authorization by the owner.
He noted the vehicle was westbound on Whittington at a high rate of speed, but he caught up to it at the intersection of Whittington and Woodfin Street where the driver, later identified as Gross, stopped. He notified other officers looking for the unauthorized vehicle that he had found it, but was told the woman driving it had agreed to take it back.
Ward noted the driver and sole occupant of the vehicle was a man and before he could get out and make contact, the vehicle sped away headed north on Woodfin, running a stop sign. It then proceeded into backyards in the 100 block of Kate Street where it collided with a shed "approximately 2 feet from a residence at 107 Kate."
Gross jumped out and fled on foot headed north toward Vivian Street. In searching the GMC, Ward reportedly located a black, zippered bag that had two clear bags of what later tested positive for meth, a total of 244.1 grams or over half a pound. Three bags with a total of 8.9 grams of marijuana, several empty bags and $8 in cash were also found.
The homeowner at 107 Kate spoke to police and stated her shed, which was damaged, was valued at $3,000.
Gross was located a few minutes later in the 100 block of Down Terrace, about one block from where Ward had last seen him. Ward went to the scene and confirmed the man in custody was the same man he had seen fleeing the GMC.
A computer check revealed he had warrants for failure to appear, failure to pay and a parole violation. In searching Gross after his arrest, officers reportedly found $988 in cash in his possession which was later seized by agents with the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force.
Gross was previously arrested on Aug. 17, 2019, after fleeing police and charged with felony counts of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of meth with purpose to deliver, two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia, felony fleeing and possession of a firearm by certain persons.
He was released on a $75,000 bond on Nov. 27, 2019, and then failed to appear for a hearing on Feb. 11, 2020. A warrant for his arrest was issued at that time and he had been sought since then.
Gross was previously convicted on March 13, 2018, of possession of a firearm by certain persons, possession of a controlled substance, meth, and possession of drug paraphernalia and sentenced to five years in prison.
Local on 04/22/2020