A Hot Springs man with a history of vandalizing businesses was arrested Thursday for allegedly causing $8,000 in damages to multiple vehicles at a local auto shop last weekend and later hitting the owner with a rock.
Richard Thompson Jr., 31, who lists an East Belding Street address, was taken into custody shortly after 2 p.m. and charged with a felony count of first-degree criminal mischief, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and a misdemeanor count of third-degree battery, punishable by up to one year in jail.
Thompson was being held on bonds totaling $4,500 and was set to appear Friday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Feb. 8, around 10 a.m., Steve Glisson, owner of Glisson's Motorsports, 920 Hobson Ave., reported an incident in which 10 vehicles parked on a lot belonging to his business were damaged.
He noted a 2006 Land Rover had the right side mirror broken, a 2002 Chevrolet Corvette had the left side mirror broken, a 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe had the rear window broken, another 2009 Chevrolet Tahoe had the right rear side window broken, a 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 truck had the windshield and right side mirror broken, a 2007 Chrysler had the left side mirror broken, a 2006 Ford F-250 truck had the driver's side window broken, a 1997 Ford Thunderbird had the sunroof window broken, and a 2016 Dodge Charger had the right side mirror broken. The total of damages was $8,000, he said.
The business surveillance camera showed a black male wearing a black PUMA jacket and red ball cap damaging the vehicles at around 5:35 p.m. Feb. 7.
On Feb. 9, at around 12:15 p.m., Glisson allegedly spotted the man from the video outside of E-Z Mart, 505 Summer St. He rolled his passenger side window down to take a photograph of the man. At that point, the man allegedly threw a large rock at Glisson while he was sitting in his truck, striking his right shoulder blade, causing bruising and swelling.
Glisson posted the man's photo on Facebook and was later advised the man was Thompson.
Detective Les Jessup compared a recent booking photo of Thompson to the man seen in the video and in the photo Glisson took at E-Z Mart and reportedly confirmed it was Thompson so a warrant was issued for his arrest.
Thompson was previously arrested Sept. 13, 2019, and charged with a felony count of first-degree criminal mischief after breaking two large windows at the Hot Springs Convention Center and cutting the center's flagpole ropes, causing over $2,000 in damages.
He also reportedly caused damages at Spencer's Corner and Picante's Mexican Restaurant, Enterprise Car Rental, Steinhaus Keller, and the Maxwell Blade Theatre of Magic at the Malco.
Thompson, who is deaf, pleaded no contest to an amended misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief in district court on Nov. 8, 2019, via a sign language interpreter and was sentenced to one year in jail, with all but 110 days suspended, and ordered to pay $6,277 in restitution. A court order barring him from contact with all the businesses was also issued.
Thompson previously pleaded no contest on Aug. 28, 2012, in district court to a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief, also involving damages to the convention center, and was sentenced to one year in jail, with all of it suspended except for 36 days, and he was ordered to pay $880 in restitution to the convention center.
Local on 02/15/2020