Law enforcement officers in Yell County recently competed in a handgun competition that was hosted at the Peeler Gap Shooting Range by the Yell County Sheriff's Department. The event was reported to be a success and the weather was a little cool but otherwise perfect for a day shooting outdoors.
Events included in the competition were the Handgun Qualification (Speed & Accuracy) Course, Draw & Fire, Prone Shooting, Combat Reloading, Man vs. Man, Distance Shooting and Stress & Decision Making. Taking home the Speed & Accuracy award for 2008 was Robert Dowling, Jr., of the Danville Police Department. Wayne Shewmake of the Sheriff's Department took the Draw & Fire award for the third time in a row, and Doug Fuller of the Sheriff's Department took the Stress & Decision Making award.
John Foster of the Criminal Investigation Division took home the awards for Combat Reloading and Man vs. Man comptetion, and Yell County Sheriff's K-9 Deputy Rick Shadden took the honors for Distance Shooting, Prone Shooting and the Top Gun award for leading the entire event in points.
Handgun Competition photos courtesy of Wayne ShewmakeSheriff Bill Gilkey announced the arrest of two suspects in connection with a recent burglary in the Waveland area, following last week’s arrest of a Booneville man on similar charges stemming from other burglaries in the same area.
Benny Jack Moore and Betty Holland of Belleville are being held on $50,000 bond each and are awaiting the filing of formal charges by Prosecuting Attorney Tom Tatum of Danville. Authorities first began looking for the pair when Det. Gary Morrison of the Criminal Investigation Division began conducting an investigation into the fraudulent use of a stolen credit card in Danville and again in Dardanelle. The card was originally reported stolen from a car on Mount Magazine on March 30, 2008. Morrison was able to follow the trail of the suspects into Yell County through the purchases they attempted with the card.
Sheriff’s Investigators were then able to obtain video surveillance footage from at least two of the locations where the card was used. The description of the two suspects and their vehicle was later matched to a burglary at the L. C. Jones residence in Waveland after the residents and a neighbor spotted the suspects and the vehicle just after the burglary was alleged to have been committed. Det. Scott Moore and Det. John Foster of the Criminal Investigation Division responded to the scene to assist Deputy Rick Shadden in collecting physical evidence.
According to Foster, still frames from the surveillance videos were dispersed to area law enforcement along with descriptions of the suspects and their vehicle. Foster said that the major break in the case came on April 15, 2008, when a local citizen provided information about a possible location of the vehicle that later proved to be correct. Foster said that after officers arrived at the location they were quickly able to match the suspects and their vehicle to the video surveillance footage and the two were taken into custody.
Foster was then able to obtain a search warrant for the couple’s residence and officers executed the search warrant later that same day. Numerous items including a computer, cameras and jewelry that were alleged to have been stolen from the Jones’ residence were recovered during the search.
Foster said that the other officers that assisted in this investigation and/or apprehension of the suspects included Sheriff Bill Gilkey, Capt. David Kimball, Lt. Kevin Williams, Det. Hollis Shadden, Det. Michael Barefield, Det. Lora Beasley and Deputy Dolan Sharp of the Sheriff’s Department, Sgt. Kenneth Jackson of the Danville Police Department and State Trooper Nick Gault.
Foster said that many other officers across the Arkansas River Valley had been helping by watching for the suspects, but according to Foster the most thanks in this case is due to the citizens involved who were keeping a watchful eye for suspicious circumstances and then provided that information to law enforcement, as well as the local merchants who assisted by providing surveillance footage that was critical in identifying these suspects.
4.29.08 UpdateInvestigators from the Yell County Sheriff's Dept. CID are asking the public for help in locating the suspects responsible for illegal dumping at the Petit Jean River on Walnut Grove Road south of Havana this month.
Items apparently from a remodeling project including rolls of older green and newer beige carpet, as well as numerous pieces of white vinyl home siding were discarded into the scenic public waterway. Investigators asked that anyone with information please contact them at 479-495-2811 or 479-229-4175 and all information given will be kept confidential.
6.15.07 Update
Yell County Sheriff's Deputies returned fugitive Angel Flores back to Yell County after he waived extradition in Brownsville, Texas. He appeared in Yell County Circuit Court and was ordered held on $750,000.00 bond in order to ensure his appearance before Judge Frank Arey to answer drug and probation violation charges against him dating back to 2004.
Yell County Sheriff's Deputies, City Police and Arkansas State Police helped commemorate National Police Week at several memorial ceremonies across the county this week. Ola, Danville and Dardanelle were once again the sites of observances honoring law enforcement officers across the nation that have given their lives, as well as those who continue to serve their communities.
The honor guard from the Sheriff's Department was present at each ceremony and fired salutes to the fallen officers as "Taps" filled the air. City police officers along with deputies posted the colors and lowered the flags to half-staff as leaders and members of the community looked on.
City mayors and Yell County Judge Brad Wear read proclamations and various others spoke to commemorate the occasion and honor the service of local law enforcement officers. Sheriff Bill Gilkey led the crowd in the Pledge of Allegiance at the Dardanelle memorial, while Chief Montie Sims of the Dardanelle Police Department and Chief Rick Padgett of the Danville Police Department introduced speakers and kept things moving at their respective events.
5.18.07 UpdateThere have been several instances of attempted financial scams involving letters originating in Canada and arriving in the mailboxes of Yell County residents. The letters which usually contain a check for a large sum, and a letter explaining what the recipient of the check is supposed to do, according to Det. John Foster, Jr., of the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division.
Foster indicated that sometimes the letters purport to be from representatives of a lottery and promise the recipient very large sums of cash. The letters often explain that the check is to cover a “tax and clearance fee”. The recipients of the letters are told to cash the check and then to contact some “agent” who will usually instruct the recipient to wire transfer all or a large portion of the cash to some other location.
The problem arises some time later when the check is discovered to be counterfeit, usually after it’s assumed to have “cleared” the bank. The bank will then contact the recipient and demand the repayment of the entire amount, which has by that time usually been sent overseas via wire transfer making it out of reach for the victim, and the suspects out of reach for law enforcement.
Foster warned that residents should not become involved in any situation in which they are asked to cash checks and then send large amounts to another party, especially if it involves a wire transfer, or overseas connections. Scam artists usually have the victim give them enough information about wire transfers that the scammer can pick up the money anywhere in the world, regardless of where the transfer was supposed to go. Foster indicated that once the money is sent it is usually unrecoverable, even for federal authorities, and the victim is held responsible for the full amount.
Another scam that is similar and very popular is the “work-at-home” scam in which someone applies for a work-at-home job, usually online, and is then sent checks to cash. The “job” is simply to go cash the checks, which later turn out to be counterfeit and worthless, and then wire the money somewhere else. The victim is told to keep a percentage, usually very small, as their pay. Det. Foster indicated that no legitimate business operates their finances that way, but many people continue to become victims of this type of scam every year.
Terrance Washington entered a plea of guilty and received a sentence of 30 years for the 1998 robbery of the Bank of Dardanelle and an additional 10 years for his escape which occurred after he was initially apprehended. Washington agreed to the plea offer from Prosecuting Attorney Tom Tatum II after jury selection had been completed and a jury trial was about to commence in Dardanelle on these charges.
Washington has been returned to the custody of the Ohio Department of Corrections where he will serve the remainder of his time on unrelated charges. After serving the remainder of his time in Ohio, he will be returned to Arkansas to begin serving his new sentence.
Yell County law enforcement is combining efforts with other organizations and members of the community to combat substance abuse problems using a multi-faceted approach. The newly formed organization has authorized a new webpage to make members of the public more aware of the problems facing our community, as well as providing an easy way to report suspicious activity. Click the banner below to find out more!
Members of the Yell County Sheriff's Department, Dardanelle Police Department, Yell County Mounted Patrol - Rescue Unit, Yell County EMS, Yell County Coroner's Office, Air Evac Lifeteam, and selected students from Dardanelle High School staged a mock accident scene in Dardanelle on May 2, 2006.
The new technology will be used to assist in solving various types of crimes, including burglaries, thefts and arson. It will also help the department to build stronger criminal cases in many types of crimes, even drug cases, in which latent impressions found on evidence could now be compared and potentially matched to suspects already in custody.
Gilkey indicated that the system was obtained for the county with a $35,000.00 grant from the United States Department of Homeland Security. This system was obtained at no cost to the taxpayers of Yell County, and will greatly enhance the abilities of the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division, according to Gilkey.
Det. Lora Beasley, who went through intensive training to operate the system, said that she was confident that this system would solve cases locally. Sheriff Gilkey, Beasley and Capt. Sammie Johnson had traveled to Forrest City to observe a similar system in action prior to making the purchase for Yell County. Capt. Johnson said that authorities in Forrest City have been “extremely successful” in clearing cases with this system.
Sheriff Bill Gilkey announced March 17, 2006, that a new high-tech crime-fighting tool has been installed at the Sheriff’s Department. The AFIX Tracker V.4.5 Automated Fingerprint & Palm Print Identification was installed this month and brings with it the ability to use technology to match even partial fingerprints recovered at crime scenes with suspect fingerprints entered into a database.
The new technology will be used to assist in solving various types of crimes, including burglaries, thefts and arson. It will also help the department to build stronger criminal cases in many types of crimes, even drug cases, in which latent impressions found on evidence could now be compared and potentially matched to suspects already in custody.
Gilkey indicated that the system was obtained for the county with a $35,000.00 grant from the United States Department of Homeland Security. This system was obtained at no cost to the taxpayers of Yell County, and will greatly enhance the abilities of the Sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division, according to Gilkey.
Det. Lora Beasley, who went through intensive training to operate the system, said that she was confident that this system would solve cases locally. Sheriff Gilkey, Beasley and Capt. Sammie Johnson had traveled to Forrest City to observe a similar system in action prior to making the purchase for Yell County. Capt. Johnson said that authorities in Forrest City have been “extremely successful” in clearing cases with this system.
Sheriff Bill Gilkey and Yell County EMS Director Sidney Ward announced today that the Yell County Sheriff’s Department and Yell County EMS have joined together in a combined effort to provide a service to the citizens of Yell County that is very unique in the nation for communities the size of Yell County. The Yell County Sheriff’s Specialized Response Team was formed in an effort to provide law enforcement and EMS the opportunity to better respond to critical incidents, especially those that might occur within schools.
Sheriff’s Deputies and Yell County EMS Paramedics who also hold certifications as part-time officers now train together on how to respond and deal with incidents such as school shootings, hostage situations, barricaded suspect situations, and high risk warrant service. The unit has been training together for over eight months. Members of the S.R.T. unit are required to demonstrate a higher level of proficiency with weapons and tactics than most officers throughout the State.
Gilkey said that an important aspect of the training these officers are going through is the familiarization with the buildings in each school district in the county. Officers regularly conduct practical training exercises in schools across the county. This enables them to not only learn the special tactics needed to deal with potentially deadly situations, but to become familiar with the campuses so that if required to respond to such an event, officers will not be going into an area they are unfamiliar with.
Another vitally important aspect of the training and organization, according to Sheriff Gilkey, is the ability to put fully certified and equipped paramedics actually into hostile situations to treat and recover injured persons as quickly as possible. Traditional EMS procedures require that medical personnel wait until the scene is rendered “safe” by law enforcement before they begin treating victims.
Lessons learned in the Columbine High School tragedy in Colorado have struck a chord with local EMS and law enforcement personnel. Gilkey said that he feels that although this type of operation is very demanding on the personnel training for these incidents, “we can’t afford to not do this.” Gilkey explained that if such an incident were to happen here, he wants to be able to get medical attention to victims and apprehend suspects as quickly and safely as possible, something which can’t be accomplished with the traditional model of law enforcement and emergency medical care.
Terrance Washington, 30, who was wanted for escape and bank robbery in connection with a robbery at the Bank of Dardanelle in 1998 was extradited from Ohio back to Yell County last week by Sheriff Bill Gilkey, Lt. David Kimball, and Sgt. Lance Davis. Washington appeared before Judge Paul Danielson who set bond at $2,000,000 after hearing a recommendation from Prosecuting Attorney Tom Tatum II.
Washington is alleged to have escaped several times in various locations over the course of the last eight years since the robbery in Dardanelle. Judges in Arkansas have to consider various factors when setting bond for defendants, including their connections to the area, probability of conviction, and flight risk.
Downtown Dardanelle is a little noisy this week as crews work to prepare the site of the future Dardanelle Courthouse Annex. The foundation of the Old Armory is being removed as a first step in process to get construction underway on a new courthouse annex. The much needed annex will provide modern court facilities to the citizens of Yell County, and was made possible when the voters approved a bond issue in a recent election.
A white male was arrested January 25, 2006, in the Haney Hollow area for failure to register as a sex offender after Sheriff's CID Investigators discover his record includes a charge of Rape by force/threat from the State of California. The suspect offered no resistance and is being held on $50,000 bond at the Dardanelle Jail where he awaits formal charges being filed by Prosecuting Attorney Tom Tatum II.
Marilyn Jones and her son, William "Boy" Jones, of Chickalah Mountain perished in a fire that destroyed their home on Chickalah Mountain in January. The Sheriff's Office wishes to extend it's condolences to their family.
Sheriff Bill Gilkey announced that two persons were taken into custody in connected with the January robbery of the Havana Branch of Chambers Bank. A male and female were stopped with a roadblock in Logan County after a lengthy pursuit by officers of the Dardanelle Police Department and Arkansas State Police.
Lt. David Kimball was able to ascertain information leading to the identification of the suspects who were then spotted by Dardanelle Officer Jesse Flores. Officer Flores was then assisted by Cpl. Chris Thompson who joined Flores in attempting to stop the suspects. The suspects are alleged to have then fled into Logan County, throwing a weapon used in the robbery from the vehicle near Wildcat Hollow.
An extensive search of that area yielded a firearm believed to have been used in the commission of the robbery.
The suspects are being held to answer formal charges filed by Prosecuting Attorney Tom Tatum II, and are scheduled for an appearance before Circuit Judge Paul Danielson.
Sheriff Bill Gilkey announced that Yell County Sheriff's CID Investigators responded to assist the Ola Police Department in investigating a burglary that was discovered at the Ola Freewill Baptist Church on Friday, Sept. 2, 2005.
According to Det. John Foster an arrest was made the next day after musical instruments taken during the burglary were recovered from a residence near the church in Ola. Foster reported that an 18 year old male residing at the residence was taken into custody at the scene by officers of the Yell County Sheriff's CID Unit, Ola Police Department and Arkansas State Police.
The suspect is being held on bond pending formal charges being filed by Prosecuting Attorney Tom Tatum II, and a subsequent appearance before Circuit Judge Paul Danielson.
Billy Ray Scott, 68, formerly of Paris, Arkansas, has been formally charged with murder in the second degree by Prosecuting Attorney Tom Tatum II, after an incident that occurred southwest of Havana on June 22,2005.
Scott was taken into custody by deputies of the Yell County Sheriff's Department without incident after he was alleged to have contacted Yell County e-911 dispatch and reported that he had shot his neighbor, Charles Watts, 62, in his yard.
According to Sheriff's investigators, Scott was cooperative with them. Scott was released on $50,000 bond pending upcoming court dates before Judge Paul Danielson in Yell County Circuit Court at Danville.
Three persons from Yell County have been arrested in recent drug arrests after a joint investigation by the 15th Judicial District Drug Task Force and the Yell County Sheriff’s Office. In one of the arrests, the Ola Police Department also assisted in the investigation.
A large amount of drugs and cash was confiscated in a drug raid on June 11th in Carden Bottoms, at which time two persons were arrested. One arrest occurred in May on Belleville Ridge about three miles Northwest of Danville.
Arrested in the Joint Task Force-Sheriff’s Office-Ola Police operation on June 11th were Gary Wayne Thompson, 49, and Josie M. Thompson, 44, his wife, after a search warrant was initiated at a residence on Sweet Home Lane, East of Centerville in the Carden Bottoms area, according to the information received from the Task Force.
Items seized included three firearms, $2,356 in cash, and approximately 2.7 pounds of marijuana, as well as various packaging devices and paraphernalia scales, papers, and pipes, shown in the accompanying photo.
The Thompson’s will be facing possible charges of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, a class C felony, possession of drug paraphernalia, a class C felony, and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, a class Y felony.
In May the 15th Judicial District Drug Task Force along with the Yell County Sheriff’s Office initiated a search warrant on a house on Belleville road. Arrested was Ryan Wilson, 23, of Belleville Ridge Road.
Approximately 3.5 ounces of a substance suspected to be marijuana and one marijuana plant was seized. Wilson will be facing possible charges of possession of marijuana with intent to deliver, a class C felony, possession of drug paraphernalia, a class C felony, and manufacturing marijuana, a class C felony.
This arrest came after a 29 year old Russellville man, Shawn David Douthit, is alleged to have traveled to Dardanelle to meet what he thought was a 13 year old female to engage in sexual activity. Officers of the Yell County Sheriff's Department and the 15th Judicial District DTF took the man into custody without incident around 12:00 noon on Friday, May 20, 2005.
Detective John Foster of the Criminal Investigation Division said that the remarkable thing about this arrest was the narrow time frame in which the operation was conducted. Foster indicated that at approximately 10:58 AM on Friday undercover officers posing as a child began chatting with a subject who inquired how close the child was to Russellville. Officers allege that the subject then indicated that he wished to engage in sexual activity with the child and agreed to meet the child at a remote location inside Dardanelle. Foster indicated that Douthit was taken into custody at that location just over an hour after the initial contact with undercover officers.
Detectives said that this arrest underscores the fact that individuals willing to engage in this kind of activity do not always travel from far away. Officers indicated that the use of the Internet makes it easier for these individuals to meet children that might present them with an opportunity, which can become especially dangerous if the child lives nearby. Foster indicated that the trend in actual cases shows that individuals living close to potential victims are more likely to arrange a meeting with a child quickly, simply because a child living close is more easily accessible.
Detective Foster said that with the approval of Sheriff Bill Gilkey, the Sheriff’s Department has recently conducted some presentations for both parents and children to make them aware of some of the dangers that children face on the Internet. Foster said that he was encouraged by a recent presentation he made to a group of sixth graders. He said that while it is disturbing to see the number of these kids that are online with very little supervision or even direction, it was encouraging to see the interest the kids showed in learning what the dangers are and how to avoid them. He said that he felt it was important to reach out directly to the kids, because so many of them know more about computers than their parents, while knowing very little about the dangers or how to avoid them.
Foster said that he wanted to thank Lt. David Kimball, Deputy Hollis Shadden, Deputy Mike Knuckols, and DTF Agent Kevin Williams for their rapid response and assistance with the arrest, as well as the Russellville Police Department and especially Sgt. John Waid and Detective Michael Hemmer for their assistance in serving a search warrant at the suspect’s residence in which one computer was recovered.
Sheriff Bill Gilkey announced March 18, 2005, that the Criminal Investigation Division of the Yell County Sheriff’s Department has made another arrest in an ongoing Internet sting operation designed to combat predators traveling into Yell County to engage in sexual activity with children.
The agency’s second arrest came on Tuesday, March 15, 2005, when Sheriff’s CID members along with members of the Danville Police Department set up surveillance at the Danville City Park where the suspect is alleged to have arranged to meet with a person he believed to be a thirteen year old girl from Danville for the purpose of engaging in sexual activity with her. According to lead investigator Det. John Foster, Jr., the suspect arrived at the park at approximately 11:45 AM Tuesday morning and was taken into custody without incident.
Daniel Isaac Klotz, 21, of Licking, Missouri, is alleged to have traveled approximately five hours to meet with what he thought would be a thirteen year old female to engage in sexual activity. Det. Foster indicated that Klotz is alleged to have engaged in several chats with undercover officers beginning in December 2004, and continuing through the early morning hours before he was taken into custody on Tuesday.
Klotz will face charges in Yell County Circuit Court including attempted rape, computer child pornography and engaging children in sexually explicit conduct for use in visual or print medium, all of which are felonies in the State of Arkansas. Klotz was taken before Judge Paul Danielson for a first appearance and bond determination on Friday, March 18, 2005, where bond was set at $50,000.00.
Detective Foster reported that since the agency’s first arrest last year, which resulted in a fifteen-year prison sentence, the department has also been responsible for investigating similar incidents that have occurred in Yell County involving real children. Foster said that those cases are much more difficult to investigate because very often there is very little retrievable evidence, and often the children themselves will not necessarily cooperate with the investigation.
The sting operation was put into operation at the suggestion of Tom Tatum II, Prosecuting Attorney for the 15th Judicial District, as a means to deter individuals from traveling to Yell County to meet with children. Investigators said that both the Sheriff’s Office and the Office of the Prosecuting Attorney hope that as this operation continues to be successful, predators who might be considering traveling to Yell County to meet with real children might learn of these arrests and be deterred from making the trip by the fear that they might have actually been talking with an undercover detective. Investigators also pointed out that even engaging in such a conversation with a child over the Internet is a crime, regardless of whether or not the suspect actually arrives to meet with the child.
Jackey Broadstock and Chasity Gault were both honored Friday, February 25, 2005, at a surprise luncheon held in their honor at Danville. Sheriff Bill Gilkey presented each with a plaque recognizing their service and expressing the department's appreciation for the work that they have done over the years.
Sheriff Gilkey also announced that Jackey Broadstock has been officially named as the Assistant Supervisor of the YCSO and Yell County E-911 Center located in Danville. The Sheriff thanked each of them for their outstanding job performance and dedication.
Chasity Gault is the daughter of Patrol Sgt. Mickey Barefield and Communications Supervisor Carolyn Barefield who works in the Dardanelle District office. She is married to Trooper Robert (Nick) Gault of the Arkansas State Police, and they have two children, Ryan and John Michael Gault, all of Danville.
Jackey Broadstock is the son of Lee Broadstock, who is an EMT with the Yell County EMS and a part-time dispatcher for Yell County E-911, and Nina and Jack McKnight.
Arkansas Governer Mike Huckabee recently announced the appointment of Yell County Sheriff Bill Gilkey to the Arkansas State Crime Lab Board. Gilkey will serve a five year term on the board which is responsible for overseeing the administration of Arkansas' Crime Laboratory in Little Rock.
The Crime Lab handles forensic evidence for the entire State of Arkansas, and has recently been expanding its operations in DNA and trace evidence. The lab is now responsible for handling DNA submissions from all persons convicted of felony crimes in the state. According to a recent report, this averages approximately 1,500 submissions per month for analysis and inclusion in the state's DNA database. This has led to a backlog which is one of the many challenges that will face the board in future.
Congratulations to Sheriff Gilkey on his appointment.
In January 2003, the YCSO went on-line with a new crime reporting system called RPS from Relativity, Inc. in Northeast Arkansas. Relativity won the contract with the Arkansas Crime Information Center (ACIC) to provide the system cheaply for the State of Arkansas. Approximately 170 agencies signed up to use the system initially.
The system has been in a constant state of developement since its initial launch date, and the most recent update (November 2004) is now allowing the Sheriff's Department to better utilize the information that has been collected from officers as they take reports from citizens and make arrests.
Det. Lora Beasley is responsible for making sure that the officer's reports contain the necessary information, and then entering them into the system. The system then automatically reports NIBRS information (crime statistics) to comply with FBI crime reporting requirements.
The new updates allow Sheriff's Deputies to easily review their cases so that they can check whether or not arrests have been made, and verify that those arrests have been reported so that the arrests will be reflected in the FBI's crime statistics. More importantly, it will assist officers in keeping track of the cases and help minimize the number of solvable crimes being "lost in the shuffle." Future updates should assist the officers in analyzing crime trends, as well as managing information about stolen property and suspects more efficiently.
Every crime is important to the victim, and that's something that the Sheriff's Department tries to stay focused on. However, it can be difficult to not lose track of a case when new ones demanding more immediate attention come in. Hopefully as the kinks get worked out the new system will help keep that from happening.
Capt. Sammie Johnson was recently awarded the Officer Year 2004-District 2 Award by Arkansas' Attorney General Mike Bebee. The award is presented annually to the four districts in Arkansas, with one over-all officer also recognized.
Johnson received the award for his efforts during the rescue of a woman who had fallen from the Arkansas River Bridge into the Arkansas River, and her husband who had gone into the water after her.
Capt. Johnson was the first officer on the scene and went into the water himself to assist the couple in making it to the shore despite the cool temperatures and rapid current.
Congratulations to Capt. Johnson for a job well done.
Yell County Sheriff's Investigators followed up on information obtained by a Danville PD Patrol Officer on February 17, 2004, which led to the arrest of two Dardanelle men in connection with several burglaries in the Danville, Belleville, and Havana area since January this year.
CID officers along with Danville Police Chief Rick Padgett were able to connect mutliple incidents to the suspects, who are now facing multiple felony counts of commercial burglary. The suspects are also facing potential charges in the City of Dardanelle, Russellville, and Pope County.
According to investigators the arrests have cleared several open burglary cases including recent burglaries at the Sonic restaurant in Danville and at the Western Yell County Schools in both Belleville and Havana. The suspects were allegedly in the act of committing one burglary when the Danville patrol officer made contact with one suspect who was waiting in a parked car near one of the businesses. According to Sheriff Bill Gilkey the officer's attentiveness played a vital role in solving the cases. Without that officer obtaining the identification of this particular suspect, investigators might still be following other leads in vain. Gilkey indicated that after the business and the school discovered the burglaries the next morning, investigators were able to focus their investigation on the suspect that had been identified earlier in what had appeared to the officer to be merely a simple case of loitering.
Investigators reported that they were relieved to be able to recover several stolen items due to the speed with which the more recent cases were cleared. Officers reported that the morning began with the taking of the burglary reports shortly before 8:00 am, and ended with both suspects in custody and numerous items recovered shortly after nightfall.
Yell County Sheriff's Investigators obtained and served an arrest warrant for Battery in the first degree on a Briggsville man in connection with a child abuse case reported to the YCSO by a concerned citizen. Investigators indicated that the six year old child had allegedly suffered two fractures to his arm during an incident that had occurred at the home recently.
Investigators reported that the suspect and the child's mother are alleged to have taken the child for medical treatment, but mislead the attending physician and hospital staff about the origin of the injuries. YCSO Investigators also placed the child's mother under arrest for hindering apprehension after she allegedly lied to investigators about the whereabouts of the suspect and her contact with him after the incident.
The suspect's surrender to authorities had to be negotiated through the suspect's attorney according to investigators, and when the suspect arrived at the Dardanelle Courthouse, he was also taken into custody on one felony count of theft by receiving when investigators discovered the car he had been driving had been reported stolen in Hot Springs. The suspect has posted bond and is awaiting his appearance in both Danville and Dardanelle Circuit Court.
Prosecuting Attorney Tom Tatum, II, and Sheriff Bill Gilkey announced in January 2004, that a joint operation conducted by the Yell County Sheriff’s Department Criminal Investigation Division and the 15th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has been initiated intercept pedophiles using the Internet to lure children from our area for sexual activity. The operation began in January when detectives with the Yell County Sheriff’s Department created online profiles that allowed them to go online posing as underage children.
On Monday, January 19, 2004, the operation gained it’s first success with the arrest of a 50 year old white male from the Harrison, Arkansas area when he arrived in Dardanelle at a pre-arranged location and met with an undercover decoy posing as the 13 year old female he believed he had met online. Detectives alleged that the man had arranged to meet the girl at the location and that he intended to take her to another location to have sex. Officers from the Yell County Sheriff’s Department and the 15th Judicial District Drug Task Force took the man into custody at the scene without incident. Officers indicated that the man was armed with a .22 caliber handgun at the time of the arrest.
Detectives obtained two search warrants, one for the suspect’s vehicle, and one for his residence in Newton County. The search warrants were executed on the same day, and officers confiscated a handgun and a personal computer, along with various other items. Detectives reported that the man had purported to be a member of the Bandidos Motorcycle organization. Officers indicated that they found items both in his vehicle and at the residence that appeared to confirm that he may have been affiliated with the organization.
The man was released from the Danville Jail after posting a $75,000 bond and appearing in Yell County Circuit Court before Judge Paul Danielson for a probable cause hearing. Prosecuting Attorney Tom Tatum, II, indicated that the formal filing of charges including the crimes of attempted rape and computer child pornography were completed soon after the arrest.
In a joint operation between the Yell County Sheriff's Department and agents of the 15th Judicial District Drug Task Force a large methamphetamine production laboratory has been shut down. Deputies and agents descended on a residence in rural Western Yell County on the morning of August 13, 2003 and served a search warrant on the premises.
Officers discovered a working methamphetamine laboratory as well as a significant quantity of finished methamphetamine, cash, a firearm and numerous items of drug paraphernalia. 15th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney Tom Tatum II has filed five class "Y" felony counts against a white male taken into custody at the scene, and he is currently being held on $150,000 bond at the Danville Jail.
Officers reported that they believe this arrest will put a severe bite on the methamphetamine supply in the Western Yell County area, and are looking forward possible additional arrests in connection with this investigation.
Shown with some of the items seized are Lt. David Kimball, Sgt. Michael Barefield, and Det./Sgt. Gary Morrison of the Yell County Sheriff's Department.
Sheriff Bill Gilkey asked for citizens of Yell County to be watching for any documents or items that may have been taken in a burglary July 9, 2003, at the Allene Shockley residence west of Mt. George.
Lt. David Kimball has located some documents that were taken in the burglary and then apparently discarded along Highway 154 and then also along Highway 27 between the SH 27 & SH 154 intersection and Dardanelle.
Anyone locating items with the name "Miller" or "Shockley" on them along the roadside, or anyone with any information about this case is asked to contact the Criminal Investigation Division at either 479-495-2811 or 479-495-3333.
Yell County Sheriff's Investigators working in conjunction with agents of the 15th Judicial District DTF, Arkansas State Police and Danville Police Department seized the largest amount of "Ice" in the county's history. "Ice" is a base form of methamphetamine that is in a very pure and highly concentrated state, and prior to this incident had rarely been seen in quantity in Yell County.
Investigators served two search warrants in the Belleville area simultaneously late June 4, 2003, and discovered a total of approximately 206 grams (0.45 lbs.) of crystal methamphetimine with an estimated street value of over $40,000.00. Officers also seized several vehicles, several hundred dollars in cash and a 9mm handgun. Forefeiture proceedings have been initiated against additional property connected to the sale and distribution of methamphetimine in this case.
Officers took 2 Asian males, 1 Black male, and 1 Asian female into custody as a result of the items seized during the execution of these search warrants. The four are expected to face felony charges in the Danville District of Yell County Circuit Court.
Yell County Sheriff's Investigators have been very active in the last month, participating in search warrants and recovering stolen property. Investigators have been working closely with agents of the 15th Judicial District DTF and the combined efforts will ultimately clear numerous theft/burglary cases, as well as bringing several area illegal drug operations to a close.
It's still a dangerous job, and these pictures prove it. Officers recently disarmed a suspect during the execution of a search warrant. Illegal drugs and stolen property were recovered during the execution of a search warrant at the suspect's residence. Several firearms will be seized as well as cash that is believed to have been the proceeds of illegal drug sales.
Officers discovered marijuana seeds being germinated in anticipation of planting season, and also recovered some stolen jewelry.
