A Hot Springs man was arrested on felony charges early Sunday after allegedly assaulting a woman, threatening to shoot her and pouring gasoline on her car as she was trying to get away.
Fredrick Lashant Nichols, 34, of 516 Linwood St., was taken into custody at his residence around 12:15 a.m. and charged with aggravated assault and first-degree terroristic threatening, each punishable by up to six years in prison.
His wife, Whitney Yvette Nichols, 31, of the same address, was also arrested and charged with a misdemeanor count of third-degree battery involving the same victim. Fredrick Nichols was later released on $5,000 bond and Whitney Nichols was released on $1,000 bond. Both are set to appear June 23 in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, around 11:30 p.m. Saturday, Hot Springs police Officer Richard Davis responded to 516 Linwood regarding a battery and made contact with Fredrick Nichols who was "very uncooperative" and refused to speak to him.
Davis noted Nichols had a laceration to the top of his head as he approached him, but then Nichols turned and went inside his residence without answering any questions.
Davis met with the alleged victim at Linwood and South streets and she stated she had gone to the Linwood Street residence with her girlfriend for a cookout. She said she and her girlfriend got into an argument and Fredrick Nichols "got involved." She said he grabbed her and began choking her, restricting her breathing.
As she was trying to get away from him, she states she hit him in the forehead, causing a small cut. At that point, Whitney Nichols started hitting her in the face.
She said she was able to make it to her vehicle at which point Fredrick Nichols allegedly told her he had a gun and was going to shoot her. She said he then started pouring gasoline on her blue 2016 Lexus. As she tried to drive away, she reportedly hit an unknown object with the front and back of her car, causing $6,000 in damages.
Davis noted the woman had scratch marks on her neck and shoulder where it appeared she had been choked. He also noted her car "had a very strong odor of gasoline coming from the exterior."
Officers returned to the residence where Fredrick Nichols was still initially refusing to come out. After several minutes, he reportedly surrendered and was taken into custody along with his wife.
Local on 05/12/2020