Fleeing felon with child in car arrested after gun, drugs found

Harry Steven Polston - Submitted photo
Harry Steven Polston - Submitted photo

A local felon was arrested on multiple charges late Thursday after allegedly fleeing from a traffic stop with a small child, a gun and drugs in the car.

Harry Steven Polston, 58, who lists a Tennessee Street address, was taken into custody shortly before 9:30 p.m. and charged with felony counts of simultaneous possession of a firearm and drugs, punishable by up to life in prison, possession of meth with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 10 years, first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, possession of a firearm by certain persons, fleeing in a vehicle, possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver, involving pills, and possession of drug paraphernalia, each punishable by up to six years.

Polston, who had warrants for probation violation and failure to comply, was also charged with misdemeanor counts of possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver, refusal to submit to arrest, reckless driving and driving on a suspended driver's license and cited for failure to obey a stop sign and no proper child restraint.

According to court records, Polston had pleaded guilty on Sept. 5, 2017, in Scott County to a felony count of breaking or entering and was sentenced to five years in prison, with the entire sentence suspended.

According to the probable cause affidavit for Thursday's arrest, Hot Springs police Officer Richard Davis saw a black Chevrolet HHR with three occupants parked in the middle of the roadway at Frazier and Gibson streets without its lights on.

He made contact with the driver, identified as Polston, a man in the back seat and a small juvenile boy, reportedly the grandson of Polston, in the front passenger seat. A computer check revealed the outstanding warrants for Polston's arrest out of Scott County, so Davis asked him to step out.

Polston asked why and Davis reportedly explained about the warrants. Polston allegedly refused to get out and asked if he could call his wife. Davis said he told him he would help him contact his wife after he got out.

At that point, Polston allegedly said, "(Expletive) this," put the car in drive and sped off toward Cottrell Avenue. Davis jumped in his unit and began a pursuit with lights and siren. He noted Polston was "driving very reckless, disobeying several stop signs, and reached speeds up to 50 mph."

Davis also noted the juvenile was still in the front seat and was not secured with a child safety restraint or even a seat belt. Officer Chris Chapin joined the pursuit which proceeded to the 200 block of Tennessee Street where Polston stopped, jumped out of his vehicle and ran toward one of the residences which was not his listed residence.

Officers were able to catch up to Polston as he was about to enter the residence and prevented him from closing the front door. Polston allegedly refused to comply with verbal commands to get on the ground and had to be "assisted to the ground" where he reportedly continued to resist. Officers finally got control of his arms and got him handcuffed.

In searching the car, officers allegedly located a plastic bag of marijuana and a camera bag containing another bag of marijuana, digital scales, and a baggie with 0.3 gram of what later tested positive for meth. Under a blanket, officers found a loaded .22-caliber handgun. In the trunk of the car, they reportedly found a plastic pill box with 16 Clonazepam pills.

The affidavit notes the total amount of marijuana found was 10.9 grams.

Local on 02/22/2020

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