A Hot Springs man was charged with felony criminal mischief Saturday after allegedly cutting catalytic converters off a vehicle at a local auto repair business.
Daniel Austin Churchwell, 25, who lists a Thornton Ferry Road address, was taken into custody shortly before 2:30 p.m. and charged with first-degree criminal mischief, punishable by up to six years in prison, and served with two warrants for failure to appear and failure to comply.
Churchwell, who lists no prior felony history, was being held on a $6,000 bond and was set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Saturday, shortly after 2 p.m., Garland County sheriff's deputies responded to Bridge's Automotive, 2372 E. Grand Ave., regarding two men trespassing on the property.
Deputies observed two males, including one later identified as Churchwell, on the property who both fled into the woods when they saw the officers, but were apprehended a short distance away.
After noting the warrants for Churchwell, he was taken into custody and sheriff's investigators responded to the automotive business where it was discovered "multiple vehicles had their catalytic converters cut off."
Investigators reviewed security video from the past several days and identified Churchwell as being on the property at 12:08 a.m. on Wednesday where he could be seen cutting two catalytic converters off a Mercedes car located in front of the shop on the property.
The property owner noted the value of the two converters was $2,000. The affidavit notes Churchwell was interviewed at the sheriff's office by investigators and reportedly admitted to being on the property Wednesday morning and removing the two converters from the Mercedes.