A local felon on parole sought by agents with the local drug task force and Arkansas Community Correction was arrested Wednesday afternoon after a brief standoff at his residence involving multiple agencies.
Jason Daniel Alford, 38, of 114 Tabor Lane, was taken into custody at his residence shortly before 3 p.m. on felony warrants for delivery of meth, punishable by up to life in prison, unauthorized use of another person's property to facilitate certain crimes, punishable by up to 20 years, unlawful use of a communications device, punishable by up to 10 years, and a parole absconding warrant.
Alford was being held on a zero bond and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court. He was convicted on Oct. 1, 2018, in Garland County Circuit Court on felony counts of possession of meth with purpose to deliver, possession of lorazepam and Trazadone with purpose to deliver and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and sentenced to five years in prison on each count, to run concurrently, and was later paroled.
His arrest "was a great coordinated effort by multiple law enforcement agencies," Garland County Deputy Prosecutor Trent Daniels, acting commander of the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force, told The Sentinel-Record Thursday.
Over the past six months, DTF investigators and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security "have been involved in an ongoing investigation in reference to meth distribution in Garland County," Daniels said, noting investigators received information a subject identified as Alford was "distributing large quantities of meth in the Hot Springs and Garland County area."
He said investigators were able to conduct at least one controlled purchase of crystal meth from Alford "during that time frame," with the amount purchased being over 10 grams, but under 200 grams, which qualifies it as a Class Y felony, and were able to get warrants for his arrest.
"Investigators had information Alford was on parole and had an active parole absconding warrant too," Daniels said. "Once we realized ACC were looking for him, too, we decided to join forces."
On Wednesday, DTF investigators, Homeland Security and ACC Special Response Team agents were working surveillance on Alford's known residence on Tabor Lane and saw him enter the residence.
"Investigators had credible information that Alford had been in possession of multiple firearms and normally possesses a firearm even though he's a convicted felon," Daniels said, so the DTF investigators contacted the Hot Springs Police Department SWAT team to assist with arresting him.
The SWAT team, Arkansas State Police troopers, officers with the HSPD's Special Investigations Unit and Garland County Sheriff's deputies all responded and "helped to set up a perimeter while the SWAT team attempted to call Alford out of the house," he said.
The SWAT team also brought the department's Mine Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle, or MRAP, to the scene.
"Alford didn't comply with SWAT commands initially," Daniels said, "but SWAT was able to use a minimum amount of force which caused Alford to exit the residence and surrender to officers."
Autumn Yvonne Bennett, 18, who was also living in the Tabor Lane residence, was found inside and had a warrant for failure to appear so she was arrested also.
Daniels noted investigators located a firearm and numerous rounds of ammunition inside the residence.