A local man was arrested on multiple charges Sunday night following a brief manhunt after allegedly threatening to kill his parents and reportedly being seen by Hot Springs police carrying a rifle.
David Michael Arnold Jr., 25, of 417 Sunset Bay Road, was taken into custody at the residence shortly after 7 p.m. and charged with a felony count of first-degree terroristic threatening, punishable by up to six years in prison, and misdemeanor counts of carrying a weapon, punishable by up to one year in jail, third-degree aggravated assault on a family or household member and public intoxication.
Arnold, who lists no prior felony history, was being held on a $4,500 bond and was set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court.
He was reportedly arrested Friday night on misdemeanor charges of driving while intoxicated, first offense, no insurance and driving left of center and later released on a $1,000 bond and was also set to appear Monday on those charges. He had pleaded guilty Jan. 13 to a misdemeanor count of harassment and was sentenced to one year of supervised probation.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 6:30 p.m. Sunday, HSPD Officer Stephan Parrott responded to the residence at 417 Sunset Bay regarding a disturbance.
Before he arrived, Parrott was advised that the female caller had stated her son, identified as Arnold, was kicking her bedroom door, attempting to gain entry. It was noted he reportedly had a firearm in his bedroom and the only other person in the house was the woman's husband, who was asleep downstairs.
Parrott made contact with other officers at the scene who stated Arnold was outside at the rear of the residence with a gun. Officers began searching behind the residence but couldn't locate him. Parrott and the others returned to the front and Parrott spotted Arnold walking down the driveway next door and noted he was carrying "a dark-colored long rifle."
Arnold's father told officers Arnold had "become angry" earlier and told him to "go ahead and punch me so I can punch you back."
As more officers arrived, a perimeter was set up and Arnold was spotted again at the rear of the residence. He was located on a second-story back porch where he was "quickly placed into custody."
While his mother was speaking to him, Arnold allegedly lifted his head, looked up at her, and whispered, "I am going to kill one of you" while in the presence of the officers. Parrott also noted an odor of intoxicants on Arnold's person.
Once at the detention center, Arnold was read his rights and allegedly stated he was knocking on his mother's door to tell her he was looking for his dog. He said his mother told him she had called the police and "he needed to run."
Arnold said he was "afraid of getting shot by the police" so he grabbed his .223-caliber Remington hunting rifle "for protection." He reportedly stated he later threw the rifle into the lake. He also reportedly told Parrott that he "suffers from depression, anxiety and OCD."