Man, woman face drug charges after deputy assaulted

Mandy Rose Cavanaugh - Submitted photo
Mandy Rose Cavanaugh - Submitted photo

A local man and a Hot Springs Village woman, both parolees, were arrested on felony charges after a search of her home Monday by the local drug task force and the man was charged with felony battery after allegedly resisting arrest.

Nathan David Holmes, 34, who lists an Alpine Street address, and Mandy Rose Cavanaugh, 33, of 160 Arias Way in Hot Springs Village, were both charged with possession of meth with purpose to deliver, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, two counts of possession of a controlled substance with purpose to deliver involving mushrooms and Xanax, punishable by six to 20 years, maintaining a drug premises, punishable by up to 10 years, and possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver and possession of drug paraphernalia, each punishable by up to six years.

Holmes was also charged with a felony count of second-degree battery, punishable by up to six years, misdemeanor counts of fleeing on foot and resisting arrest, and had felony warrants for delivery of meth and theft by receiving of a credit card and a misdemeanor warrant for fraudulent use of a credit card.

Holmes and Cavanaugh both remained in custody Tuesday on a zero bond and are set to appear today in Garland County District Court.

According to the probable cause affidavit, on Monday morning, officers with the 18th Judicial District East Drug Task Force and Arkansas Community Correction were conducting surveillance on Cavanaugh's residence on Arias Way after receiving information Holmes, a parole absconder sought on multiple warrants, was staying there with her. Both Holmes and Cavanaugh had active search waivers on file.

Holmes and Cavanaugh were seen leaving the residence around noon and getting into a gold 2006 Chrysler Pacifica registered to Cavanaugh, who was driving. The vehicle was stopped moments later by Garland County sheriff's Capt. Joel Ware and Deputy Hunter Grubbs on DeSoto Boulevard.

After the vehicle stopped, the passenger, Holmes, got out "with his focus on Ware" who was parked ahead of him, Grubbs states. Grubbs, who was behind him, gave Holmes multiple commands to get on the ground.

Instead, Holmes "took off in a full sprint" north on DeSoto and into some nearby woods with Grubbs in pursuit. He chased him about 50 yards and was able to tackle him to the ground where Holmes allegedly became belligerent and started "kicking and flailing his arms."

While Grubbs and others attempted to handcuff him, Holmes struck Grubbs in the face with his elbow, resulting in redness and swelling near his right eye. Grubbs also lost his prescription glasses in the struggle.

Cellphones belonging to each of the suspects were seized from the vehicle. Holmes was transported to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs after complaining of shortness of breath. When asked if he had swallowed anything, he reportedly admitted to ingesting some meth and that he had injected meth earlier in the day.

Cavanaugh was taken back to her residence and reportedly gave consent for the officers to search. In the master bedroom, officers reportedly found 21.5 grams of suspected marijuana, 4.4 grams of what later field-tested positive for meth, 20.6 grams of psilocybin mushrooms, 1.5 grams of Xanax bars, two sets of digital scales, syringes, a marijuana grinder and other paraphernalia.

Cavanaugh and Holmes, who was cleared by the hospital and released into custody, were both taken to the Garland County Detention Center where they were both charged with multiple felony counts by the DTF. The sheriff's department later filed charges against Holmes in connection with the assault on Grubbs.

According to court records, Holmes previously pleaded guilty to a felony count of breaking or entering in Garland County Circuit Court on March 13, 2018, and was sentenced to five years in prison, but later paroled. Cavanaugh pleaded guilty on April 29, 2014, in circuit court to a felony count of third-degree escape and was sentenced to 10 years in prison, but later paroled.

Nathan David Holmes - Submitted photo
Nathan David Holmes - Submitted photo

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