A local teen was arrested on a felony warrant Tuesday afternoon stemming from allegations she was one of three people who attacked and robbed a juvenile girl while walking in Whittington Park in 2021.
Megan Alizabeth Johnson, 18, who lists a Mount Tabor Road address, was taken into custody on the warrant for robbery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, around 5 p.m. by Hot Springs police Sgt. Joey Williams following a traffic stop at West St. Louis Street and Central Avenue.
Johnson, who was also cited for driving a vehicle without tags and having no driver's license, remained in custody Thursday on a zero bond and is set to appear June 30 in Garland County District Court. According to court records, she lists no prior criminal history.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Dec. 11, 2021, shortly before 1:30 a.m., police responded to the Arlington Resort Hotel & Spa, 239 Central Ave., regarding a robbery that had occurred a few minutes earlier in Whittington City Park, 1201 Whittington Ave.
The officers made contact with a juvenile female who stated she was attacked in the park by multiple people.
She said she had received a text message from a female friend, 15, who asked to "hang out" with her. She noted she knew the friend from drug court and they would "hang out occasionally." She said the friend came to her house and picked her up in a newer model white or silver sedan with an unknown male.
She said they drove to Whittington Park and began walking around. Once they arrived at "the bridge" she states she was hit from behind and then her friend and another juvenile female she knew, identified as Johnson, started punching her and kicking her multiple times in the face and torso.
She said Johnson told her to "run your (expletive)" which prompted her to empty her pockets. She said she gave them $20 in cash and her iPhone. She said Johnson made her use her password to unlock the phone and then they left the area.
The victim noted there was a male that was also hitting her, but she didn't know his identity and the affidavit didn't indicate if it was the same male who had been with her friend in the car.
The victim said she ran to the Arlington because she knew it would be open and called police. The affidavit notes the victim suffered swelling, bruises, abrasions and redness to her face and body.
LifeNet paramedics responded to the hotel, but the victim reportedly declined any medical services.
She noted the value of her phone was $150. Warrants for the two female suspects were later issued.