Police beat: Arkansas Blog, Arkansas Times

Multiple deaths in Scott accident

Max Brantley — Fri, 24 May 2013 13:32:20 -0500

Channel 11 is reporting that three people were killed in an accident today in Scott when a vehicle ran off Old River Road and into a tree.

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Long-dead body on list of complaints about LR apartment building

Max Brantley — Thu, 23 May 2013 08:17:00 -0500

A gruesome report from Channel 4 about resident complaints concerning the Plaza Towers apartment building on West Markham Street (next door to the Chick-fil-A across from Park Plaza.)

Complaints include the belated discovery of the death of an elderly resident, an estimated two weeks after his death and long after decomposition made it clear to residents something was amiss.

Little Rock police confirm an elderly man died from natural causes in his room on the 5th floor, but it took two weeks to notice and by then, residents say the smell greeted them getting off the elevator.

Other resident complaints include street people sleeping in stairwells, unrepaired fire damage and multiple police calls.

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Two shot at Verizon Arena this morning

David Koon — Tue, 21 May 2013 14:20:00 -0500

Officers with North Little Rock police responded to a call about a shooting at Verizon Arena this morning around 11 a.m. and found two people shot.

A female student from Little Rock's Parkview High School was one of two people wounded in what a Little Rock School District official told KTHV is a "domestic situation." The suspect in the case, a male who is not a student at Parkview, was also shot, and is in serious condition. The relationship between the suspect and the female victim — and how both wound up wounded — hasn't been released.

Parkview had just completed practice for their graduation ceremony at the time of the shooting. Parkview's graduation is scheduled for 8:30 p.m. tonight at Verizon, and will apparently go on as planned. We're trying to reach a NLR police spokesman for more information, and will post if anything else becomes available.

UPDATE: This from the Little Rock School District:

Tuesday morning following practice for Parkview graduation exercises, a female senior was wounded on the parking lot outside Verizon Arena as the result of what police believe was a domestic dispute with a person not affiliated with LRSD. Thankfully, the student’s injuries are not life-threatening. No other students were injured.

We are sending our well wishes to the injured student and her family and hopeful that the she will make a full recovery. Graduation exercises will continue as planned and LRSD is working closely with North Little Rock Police to provide extra security at all ceremonies.

In case of severe weather, we will follow Verizon Arena emergency protocols which require everyone to be inside the arena bowl, not the concession areas; and any other measures recommended by Verizon officials, should they become necessary.

Channel 4 has identified the young woman as Jasmine Fisher.

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LRPD News: Homicide, traffic death

Max Brantley — Fri, 10 May 2013 07:59:00 -0500

News from Sgt. Cassandra Davis of Little Rock police:

* HOMICIDE (12th of the year in LR):

Police are currently working a homicide that occurred at 5:10 this morning. Officers were called to a shooting just occurred near 4th and Woodrow. There they made contact with a white male who advised that he and his friend were getting gas at the EZ Mart at 12 and Woodrow when they were approached by three black males who demanded a ride. The three jumped in the small red SUV with the two victims and drove to 4th and Woodrow where one of the victims got out and went inside a residence. It is not clear exactly why he went inside the residence. The three black males along with the second victim drove off. The second victim was found lying in the roadway by police on 11th Street between Woodrow and Booker deceased. The victim is a WM unknown name or address.

The stolen vehicle is a smaller red SUV similar to a Hyundai Santa Fe. All suspects are black males. On was dark skin wearing dark clothing, 5’10 150lbs, the second has short hair, 6’00, 130lbs wearing a gray hoodie and blue jeans, the third is medium skin tone, 6’00 240lbs

* TRAFFIC DEATH:

On today's date at 0402 hours Ms. Maria Allen (B/F DOB 03-12-92) was on her way to work at Starbucks at the Clinton Airport. As she entered the curve on Airport Drive her vehicle lost control and ran into a large sign pole. Her vehicle made contact on the driver's side and crushed the door into the passenger side of the vehicle. This caused her death on contact. She was the only subject in the vehicle

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One dead in multiple vehicle crash on I-40

Max Brantley — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:33:00 -0500

From the State Police:

Arkansas State Troopers are still on the scene of a six vehicle crash in the eastbound lane of I-40 at the 199 mile marker. One fatality has been confirmed and two individuals with injuries have been transported to area hospitals.

The crash scene involves five commercial carrier (tractor-trailer) truck and one passenger mini-van.

The eastbound lane of the construction zone has been closed since 10:15 this morning. Removing the wrecked vehicles from the single lane is expected to continue through 3 or 4 PM.

Traffic is being diverted onto U.S. Highway 70 (at Hazen and Biscoe).

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Escaped teen is sought: Update

Leslie Newell Peacock — Tue, 07 May 2013 17:05:02 -0500

A manhunt is underway for Brandon Metcalf, 17, who escaped between 9:15 and 9:30 p.m. last night from the Dermott Juvenile Treatment Center. Metcalf, from Atkins, was committed to the facility Oct. 26, 2012, on charges of breaking or entering, aggravated assault and minor in possession of a handgun.

Kate Luck, a spokesman for the Division of Youth Services at the Department of Human Services, said local, county and state police and search dogs were called out last night to search for the teen-ager. He is believed to have fled south from the facility, but the spokesman said the agency is unsure how he escaped.

Metcalf is is 5 feet 6 and weighs 130 pounds; DYS asks if you see him to notify local police.

The Dermott facility is operated under a contract by South Arkansas Youth Services.

UPDATE: Metcalf was located in Russellville and has been taken into custody.

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ATF investigating Little Rock church fire

Max Brantley — Wed, 01 May 2013 13:20:00 -0500

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms announced today it was investigating the fire that destroyed the First Baptist Church of Highland Park last Sunday. Damage was estimated at $1.5 million.

The church pastor told Channel 4 the day of the fire that the burglary alarm at the church went off shortly before the early morning fire. But those might have been security alarms also rigged to serve as smoke detectors.

NEWS RELEASE

LITTLE ROCK, ARK. — The National Response Team (NRT) of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) along with special agents from the New Orleans Field Division have been activated to join the investigation of a fire that destroyed the First Baptist Church at Highland Park, 3800 West 18th Street, Little Rock, Arkansas. Structural damage to the church is estimated at $1.5 million.

“ATF is investigating the fire jointly with the Little Rock Fire Department, Arkansas State Fire Marshal’s Office, and the Arkansas State Police to determine the origin and cause of the fire”, said Phillip Durham, ATF special agent in charge of the New Orleans Field Division. “This is a devastating loss for the community.”

In 1978, ATF developed the NRT to bring its expertise to federal, state and local investigators in meeting the challenges faced at the scenes of significant explosives and arson incidents. The NRT consists of four teams organized geographically to cover the United States. Each team can respond within 24 hours to assist state and local law enforcement/fire service personnel in onsite investigations.

The teams are each composed of veteran special agents who have post-blast and fire origin-and-cause expertise; forensic chemists; explosives enforcement officers; fire protection engineers; accelerant detection canines; explosives detection canines; intelligence support, computer forensic support and audit support. The team work alongside state and local officers in reconstructing the scene, identifying the seat blast or origin of the fire, conducting interviews,
and sifting through debris to obtain evidence related to the bombing/arson.

Further complementing the teams’ efforts are technical, legal and intelligence advisers. Moreover, a fleet of fully equipped response vehicles strategically located throughout the United States is available to provide logistical support.

This is the 7th NRT activation in FY 2013 and the 743rd since the inception of the NRT.

In addition to investigating hundreds of scenes, the NRT has also been activated to scenes such as the 1993 World Trade Center bombing, the Oklahoma City federal building bombing and Sept. 11, 2001, Pentagon crash site, as well as blasts at explosives and ammunition manufacturing plants, legal fireworks factories and illegal explosives device manufacturing operations.

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Prairie Grove fires cop in bar scuffle

Max Brantley — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 11:57:00 -0500

KNWA reports that the Prairie Grove police department has fired a detective, Rex Frederick, who was involved in a fight in a Fayetteville tavern.

Prairie Grove moves faster than the Little Rock Police Department. Another office in that episode, Little Rock Officer Jeffery Harris, was placed on leave with pay April 15 while an internal investigation proceeded.

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UPDAT: 'Officer-involved shooting' on University

Lindsey Millar — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 09:00:00 -0500

Parts of University and H streets were closed this morning following what Little Rock Police Department Sergeant Cassandra Davis called an "officer-involved shooting." Police were responding to reports of car break-ins. They apprehended one suspect. Davis said the other suspect is down.

UPDATE FROM KATV: One suspect in custody, one hospitalized in critical condition with gunshot wound to upper torso; one suspect being sought.

UPDATE FROM ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE: The wounded suspect has died.

LRPD statement:

The suspect shot by an officer during this mornings officer involved shooting has died as a result of his injuries. The identity of both suspects is known however we are not releasing their names nor the name of the officer involved in the shooting.

UPDATE: Late in the afternoon, the LRPD released the following summary of the morning events:

On April 25, 2013 at approximately 0541 hours LRPD officers were dispatched to a suspicious person call at 416 N. Pierce. The complainant advised that there were three suspects possibly breaking into vehicles. Upon arrival officers located numerous vehicles that had been broken into. While checking the vehicles the officers also found a stolen vehicle that appeared to be the suspect's vehicle. This vehicle had been reported stolen out of NLR and the officers located a weapon and two way radio. As the officers were on the scene they heard several shots fired in a close proximity. The officers began to search for the suspects and were able to locate two black males in the area that fled. A foot pursuit ensued and officers were able to locate one of the suspects hiding in some bushes. This suspect was identified as Roy Boles (black male, DOB 1/21/95, of 2409 W. 16th, North Little Rock).

Officers continued to search for other suspects and using the two way radio they located they were able to determine that one of the suspects was attempting to get on a city bus. An officer located this suspect at University and H Street bus stop. The officer attempted to take the suspect into custody and a struggle ensued. During the struggle the officer saw that the suspect had a handgun in his waistband. The suspect was able to break away from the officer and flee again. A broadcast was made that the suspect was fleeing and was armed with a handgun.

Officer Gorbet, 22 years with the department, then observed the suspect fleeing in the area of Forrest Heights School. Officer Gorbet began chasing the suspect and ordered him to stop. After a short chase the suspect stopped and turned around at which time Officer Gorbet saw that he was armed with a semi-auto pistol. The suspect fired several times at Officer Gorbet who then returned fire at the suspect. The suspect fled into a wooded area and hid until officers were able to take him into custody. It was determined that the suspect, who was identified as Kenzell Hobbs, (black male, DOB 7/23/94 of 800 N. Beech, apartment #11, North Little Rock) had been shot at least one time. He was transported to UAMS where he later died from his wounds. Officer Gorbet was not injured. The officer that fought with Hobbs earlier was treated and released for minor injuries.

A third person of interest was later located and the investigation is continuing into his and Boles' involvement. At this time no one has been officially charged with any crime. Investigators continue to interview officers and witnesses relating to the officer involved shooting. Charges against those arrested will be determined as the investigation continues.

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LR cop relieved of duty over Fayetteville bar incident

Max Brantley — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 10:13:00 -0500

Update on the Billy's Bar brouhaha in Fayetteville (video above) that I mentioned again this morning. One of those involved WAS a Little Rock police officer. Statement from Sgt. Cassandra Davis of LRPD:

On April 15, 2013 this agency received information that an officer with this agency was involved in a physical altercation in Fayetteville, AR. Reports indicated that the officer was in possession of a handgun and did display that handgun during this altercation. Our department determined this officer to be Jeffery Harris who was hired with this department in November of 2011. Mr. Harris has been relieved of duty [not fired, but suspended with pay] and an Internal Investigation has been initiated. This department is cooperating with Fayetteville police as they investigate this incident.

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UPDATE: Shooting reported in Woodlands Edge

Max Brantley — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 15:46:00 -0500

Fox 16 reports a police officer has fired at a suspect near Brodie Creek Road and Bowman Trail in western Little Rock in the Woodlands Edge subdivision. A large police contingent on the ground and a helicopter have been deployed, which has stirred chatter on Forbidden Hillcrest and other sites.

UPDATE: Fox 16 now says police apparently exchanged gunshots with a person wanted on a felony warrant, but it's believed no one was hit. The suspect remained at large at that report.

Channel 4 adds that the police were investigating two other afternoon shootings — at 28th and Van Buren and 36th and Potter.

UPDATE II: A suspect was in custody about 5:30 p.m. in the Woodlands Edge shooting, Channel 11 reported.

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Charge dropped in hit-and-run case; new suspect arrested

Max Brantley — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 10:57:10 -0500

An important update on a case reported here earlier about a hit-and-run of a pedestrian, Lois Sandusky, 61, at Kavanaugh and Beechwood. Eyewitness testimony resulted in the arrest of the wrong person. From the LRPD's Sgt. Cassandra Davis:

On January 7th at approximately 1:10 pm officers responded to a hit and run at Kavanaugh and Beechwood. Witness advised that the pedestrian was struck by a white two or three ton truck which displayed a military tag of AAEF. Investigators ran the tag thorough ACIC and located 26 military tags which displayed AAEF. One of those returns to a two ton truck, white and registered to Steven Kissinger. A witness identified Mr. Kissinger as the driver of the vehicle that struck the pedestrian. Mr. Kissinger was arrested and charged with careless and prohibited driving and leaving the scene of an accident. Upon further investigation investigators determined that although Mr. Kissinger’s truck was similar in color and style to the suspect vehicle, it was not the vehicle involved in the hit and run. Investigators also determined that although Mr. Kissinger resembled the suspect he was not the driver of the vehicle that struck the pedestrian. The case against Mr. Kissinger has been Nolle Prosequi [not prosecuted].

Additional investigation developed Mr. Claude Smith as the driver of the vehicle that struck the victim. On March 18, 2013, at 10:00 Mr. Claude Smith, w/m, 9/29/70 turned himself in to Judge Lightle’s court and was charged with one count each of Felony Hit & Run, Careless & Prohibited, Failure to Yield to Pedestrian in a Crosswalk, Driving on a Suspended D.L., Expired Vehicle Registration and No Insurance.

In response to a question, Sgt. Davis said Smith also had a special plate bearing those letters on his truck.

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Drunk, pantless and fleeing in a child's ride-on toy in Jonesboro

David Koon — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 12:15:57 -0600

A Jonesboro woman was placed under arrest last night in after drunkenly trying to flee police in a child's battery-operated "Power Wheels" toy car after crashing her Pontiac into a mobile home and then removing her pants.

Jaime Craft, 28, reportedly had a blood alcohol content three times the legal limit. Once her low-speed pursuit was over, she was charged with disorderly conduct, driving on a suspended license and DUI.

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Bell hints at legislative response to license plate scanner

Lindsey Millar — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 10:05:46 -0600

On Saturday, the AP followed up on a story we first reported on last fall: The Little Rock Police Department is now employing a license plate scanner on one of its patrol cars. From David Koon's story last October:

While the goal is to help officers spot plates associated with wanted cars, the system captures every plate it sees, and the data it collects can be stored and searched at a later date. With most of that data potentially accessible to both law enforcement and anyone who makes a Freedom of Information Act request about a specific plate number, the ability to store and cross-reference data on the movements of innocent citizens has privacy advocates up in arms about similar systems nationwide...

"The date, time, LPN [license plate number] and GPS coordinates are stored each time a license plate is 'read,' " [Little Rock Police Department spokesperson Sgt. Cassandra] Davis said in an e-mail exchange about the system. "Those 'reads' can be uploaded to a server and then [we can] search records if needed."

News of the use of the scanner didn't sit well with at least on state legislator. Rep. Nate Bell, R-Mena, tweeted yesterday: "Something tells me that the City of Little Rock isn't gonna like my response to learning about this," with a link to the AP story.

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Suspects in Park Plaza shooting identified (corrected)

David Koon — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 10:32:31 -0600

The two suspects arrested in last night's murder of one Park Plaza Mall restaurant worker and the wounding of another have been identified by the Little Rock Police Department.

Sgt. Cassandra Davis said the suspects are Deonte Edison, 18, of 2615 Bishop St., and Tristan Bryant, 20, of 2708 Center St. Davis said that officers responding to the scene around 9:45 last night were able to obtain information on possible suspects, and Edison and Bryant were arrested at 2511 Bishop St. a little over two hours after the murder. Davis said she wasn't able to reveal how the information about the suspects was obtained. Both Bryant and Edison have been charged with one count of capital murder, and one count of attempt to commit capital murder. Davis said police still believe the motive was robbery.

The Sbarro pizza worker who died is identified in the LRPD incident report as ~~Bryan Williams, 30, of 6000 West Markham.~~ (Sgt. Davis has just sent a correction to the incident report, which should have said that Christian Hayes died of his injuries, not Williams. Williams is the business manager of Sbarro's.) The woman who was wounded was Jashonta Thomas, 18, of Little Rock. She remains in St. Vincent Hospital in critical condition.

UPDATE: Someone sent us a link to a page that purports to be photos taken by Deonte Edison. Featured prominently on the page, along with photos of Edison, is a photo of a .380 automatic pistol taken four days ago, with the owner of the page commenting on the photo: "JUST a new lil toy."

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Davis named interim chief for NLRPD

David Koon — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 09:57:09 -0600

North Little Rock Mayor Joe Smith announced yesterday that Assistant Chief of Police Mike Davis will become the interim chief of North Little Rock Police Department, effective Saturday. The current chief, Danny Bradley, will become Smith's Chief of Staff.

Davis began his career with the department as a patrol officer in 1986. He was sworn in as assistant chief on October 4. His salary as interim chief will be $88,800 per year. A news release from the city says officials will make a decision on a permanent chief within a few months.

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Simmons Bank in the Heights robbed

David Koon — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:27:29 -0600

KLRT 16 reports that Simmons Bank at 1818 N. Taylor Street in the Heights was robbed this afternoon just after 1 p.m. Suspect is described as between 5'8" and 5'10", with shaggy hair and a beard, wearing a red t-shirt. Police say the man got away with an undisclosed amount of money.

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Couple robbed in NLR while responding to Craigslist ad

David Koon — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:20:52 -0600

A couple told N. Little Rock Police they were robbed at gunpoint last night after driving from Oklahoma hoping to buy a car they saw advertised on Craigslist.

The couple said they'd been directed to go to an address on Graham Ave., where they were to meet the seller of a used Mercedes, who told them he was running late. While they were waiting for the seller to arrive, they were approached by two men in hooded sweatshirts, at least one of whom brandished a handgun. The men demanded their valuables, then ran away.

This isn't the first Craigslist robbery in recent memory. Last October, a Little Rock man was charged with theft of property after police say he did multiple snatch-and-run robberies from Craigslist sellers who met up with him while trying to sell small electronics.

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High-speed chase ends with overturned car, three arrested

David Koon — Fri, 22 Feb 2013 14:06:56 -0600

A high-speed chase between police and a stolen Kia that began near Maple and Asher this morning ended when the car hit a truck and overturned at 12th and Dennison. Three suspects in the Kia were arrested after being transported to a local hospital treatment.

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Police chase ends in river rescue

Max Brantley — Thu, 07 Feb 2013 08:21:05 -0600

From Fox 16:

Little Rock firefighters sent water rescuers into the Arkansas River to get a police officer and a driver involved in a chase. Little Rock Fire spokesman Captain Randy Hickmon says police chased a driver on Rebsamen Park Road.

The driver got onto the golf course and then drove into the Arkansas River at the Murray Park dock. He then swam onto an island. That police officer swam out to get him and eventually arrested him.

Hickmon says the man and police officer are doing fine. It's not known why the chase started or the charges the driver will face. police officer are doing fine.

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G & F commissioner arrested

Leslie Newell Peacock — Wed, 23 Jan 2013 14:00:16 -0600

KTHV reports on the arrest last night of Game and Fish Commissioner Richard T. Watkins for being drunk and disorderly, and the account adds some detail this morning's item in the Democrat-Gazette, including the photo above, which indicates he was in camo. (It's still duck season, so no violation story there.) Apparently, police were called after Watkins banged on the windows of a home and a nearby business.

The sheriff's office said Watkins was released at 7:54 p.m. last night.

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911 delay reported in fatal accident response

Max Brantley — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 13:36:45 -0600

The Little Rock Police Department has announced suspension of a police communications officer because of a failure in immediately sending emergency responders to a report of a car that slid off an icy road in western Little Rock yesterday and submerged in a pond. The driver died and her child was hospitalized. The LRPD release:

On Monday, January 14, 2013, the Little Rock Communications Center received a transferred cellular 911 call from Pulaski County 911 at 7:57 a.m. The call information indicated two people were trapped inside their vehicle that was in a pond on Cooper Orbit Road, just east of Capitol Hill Boulevard and Rushmore Avenue. The Little Rock 911 Operator notified Metropolitan Emergency Medical Services (M.E.M.S.) of this call at 8:01 a.m.

At 8:17 a.m., M.E.M.S. called back to Little Rock Communications to verify that the Little Rock Fire Department was enroute to the scene, at which point it was determined that only M.E.M.S. was dispatched. For reasons undetermined at this time, the Little Rock Fire Department and the Little Rock Police Department had not been dispatched.

At 8:23 a.m., the call was dispatched to the Little Rock Fire Department, who sent a Water Rescue Unit. The Little Rock Police Department was also dispatched to the scene at 8:27 a.m. According to the records it was approximately twenty six minutes before the Little Rock Fire Department was dispatched and thirty minutes before the Little Rock Police Department was dispatched.

Once it was determined there was a delay in dispatching fire and police to this call an investigation into
the circumstances was initiated. At this point, the 911 operator has been relieved of duty pending the
outcome of this investigation.

Sgt. Cassandra Davis said the call originally went to a county 911 operator because it was reported by a cell phone call that was relayed by a tower in the county, under the sheriff's jurisdiction. The accident happened in Little Rock city limits, in police jurisidiction, but near the western edge of the city. The delay in dispatch of emergency crews with ability to get in the water — which MEMS cannot do — may have been critical, though the fire crew still had 11 miles to cover to reach the scene from its station downtown.

Jingli Yei, 39, died in the wreck after her vehicle slid into the water in sub-freezing weather. She was able to place the distress call by cell phone from her car. According to media accounts, she and her 5-year-old son, Le Ying, were alive when removed from the car, but she died at a hospital. Her son was in critical condition today at Children's Hospital.

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LRPD identifies officers in fatal shooting

Max Brantley — Mon, 14 Jan 2013 16:23:38 -0600

The Little Rock police say Detective Todd Hurd, a member of the force since 1992, fired the two shots that killed a burglary suspect, Michael Daniel, 25, Friday morning.

The police report said that Hurd fired when the suspect was attempting to take a gun from Detective Kenneth Blankenship, a 27-year veteran. The police narrative of events, much like one released Friday without identifying the officers involved, follows on the jump. It says Daniel stopped during a chase as if to surrender, then started fighting with Blankenship.

Here's the incident report and the arrest report of Daniel's companion.

The police are not saying where the slain suspect was wounded until autopsy results are complete.

Hurd was featured in a 2002 article for his gang-related work.

LRPD STATEMENT

On Friday, January 11, 2013, the Little Rock Police Department received information that two individuals had broken into a residence and were returning to that residence to remove property. The Department was not provided with the specific address of this residence, only the general area of town.

Detective Kenneth Blankenship and Detective Todd Hurd from the Department’s Special Investigations Division and property crimes Detectives from the Department’s Downtown Division searched this area and at approximately 9:40 a.m. located the burglary at the west side of the duplex at 4521 W. 16th Street, observing an individual loading items taken from the residence into a gray Toyota Camry driven by a second person. As this vehicle pulled away from the residence (with both individuals now inside), the Detectives followed it and attempted to arrange for a marked patrol unit to assist in stopping it. Prior to the arrival of a marked unit, the suspect vehicle stopped just off the alley west of 1418 S. Brown and both individuals exited the vehicle and ran.

According to the Detectives, they gave chase to both individuals and, during the course of this, one individual stopped, appeared as if he was surrendering, and then charged and fought with pursuing Detective Kenneth Blankenship. This struggle continued for a few moments, during which time the suspect knocked the Detective Blankenship down and attempted to take control of his handgun. A second Detective (Detective Hurd) now approached, attempted to assist and, believing that the suspect was about to acquire Detective Blankenship’s weapon, fired two rounds at the suspect from his own weapon. Both rounds struck this individual and he was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene. Location of the round strikes on the body of Mr. Daniels will not be released until the autopsy of the victim has been completed. Detective Blankenship did sustain some injury to ligaments during this struggle.

Property recovered from the Toyota Camry has been identified as having been stolen from the residence at 4521 W. 16th Street.

Attached please find the police incident report and arrest report for Marcus Davis. Mr. Davis has a criminal history that includes Possession of Drugs, Theft By Receiving and Possession of a firearm by certain person. The deceased Michael Daniels’ criminal history includes several counts of breaking and entering, Theft of Property. Possession of an Instrument of crime, Theft By Receiving and Theft of Property.

Photos of these officers are not included because they are classified as undercover officers. Officer Blankenship was hired in 1985. Officer Hurd was hired 1992.

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UPDATE:LR police kill reported burglary suspect in chase

Max Brantley — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 18:32:30 -0600

KATV reports that Little Rock police are on the scene of a reported shooting by a police officer at 14th and Brown about 10 a.m. today.

UPDATE: Channel 4 reports that a man was fatally shot during a chase that began when detectives responded to a call of a burglary in progress.

UPDATE II: Police at 5 p.m. have said little more about the episode, but neighbors are rumbling about circumstances of the chase and where he was wounded. The police haven't said if the suspect was armed, but Sg. Cassandra Davis told Fox 16 that officers felt "threatened."

UPDATE III: At 6:30 p.m., police spokesman Davis said the department still hoped to have a statement today, but witnesses are being interviewed. The police reluctance is understandable.

KATV had a strong report this evening, including an account from a witness from the neighborhood, who contended the suspect was unarmed, fleeing police, jumping over a fence and shot in the back. He had resisted earlier commands to get on the ground.

This adds to a mounting toll of Little Rock police officer shootings, some of which are being questioned in a lawsuit by a Chicago lawyer who criticizes the department's propensity to use force and its failure to have objective reviews of use of force.

A caller from the neighborhood who's questioned police before tells me details are hazy, including a report that two men may have been involved in the original police response to a burglary call.

POLICE UPDATE: The official account confirms two men were suspects and the shooting followed a scuffle in which an officer believed the slain suspect was attempting to get another officer's weapon. There is no mention that the chase was continuing when the shooting occurred or where the dead suspect was shot. His companion has been charged with capital murder, possible when a death occurs in commission of a felony.

On Friday, January 11, 2013, the Little Rock Police Department received information that two individuals had broken into a residence and were returning to that residence to remove property. The Department was not provided with the specific address of this residence, only the general area of town.

Detectives from the Department’s Special Investigations Division and property crimes Detectives from the Department’s Downtown Division searched this area and at approximately 9:40 a.m. located the burglary at the west side of the duplex at 4521 W. 16th Street, observing an individual loading items taken from the residence into a gray Toyota Camry driven by a second person. As this vehicle pulled away from the residence (with both individuals now inside), the Detectives followed it and attempted to arrange for a marked patrol unit to assist in stopping it. Prior to the arrival of a marked unit, the suspect vehicle stopped just off the alley west of 1418 S. Brown and both individuals exited the vehicle and ran. 1418 S. Brown is only a random address for which the suspects decided to stop.

According to the Detectives, they gave chase to both individuals and, during the course of this, one individual stopped, appeared as if he was surrendering, and then charged and fought with a pursuing Detective. This struggle continued for a few moments, during which time the suspect knocked the Detective down and attempted to take control of his handgun. A second Detective now approached, attempted to assist and, believing that the suspect was about to acquire the first Detective’s weapon, fired at the suspect from his own weapon. The suspect was subsequently pronounced dead at the scene. The second individual was arrested without incident by other officers in the area.

The deceased has been identified as Michael W. Daniel 2nd, age 25, of 1504 S. Pine. The second individual, identified as Marcus Davis, age 26, of 4115 S. Malloy, has been charged with Capital Murder, Burglary, Theft, and Fleeing.

Pursuant to Little Rock Police Department General Orders, two separate investigations have been initiated into this matter. The first, conducted by the Department’s Major Crimes Division, will be submitted to the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office when completed for a review and determination as to compliance with Arkansas law; the second, conducted by the Department’s Professional Standards Section, is charged with determining whether the Detectives involved acted in accordance with Departmental policies.

Both Detectives have been placed on administrative leave as required by Departmental policy and the investigations are continuing in this matter. One Detective received minor injuries during the struggle which do not appear to require hospitalization.

Additional information will be made available by the Department as the investigations continue.

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Sentencing in Arkansas Tech hazing case

Cheree Franco — Fri, 11 Jan 2013 16:00:09 -0600

Four men initially charged with second degree battery, a Class D felony, in an Arkansas Tech hazing case that we reported on in September have pleaded guilty to hazing, a class D misdemeanor, and were sentenced to 90 days probation. The incident left DeShawn Scoggins, a 23-year-old Arkansas Tech football player, in intensive care, with kidney damage so severe that doctors placed him in a week-long medical coma. The Courier has more.

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