It’s a full moon, and yes, that’s reflected in today’s police beat. After a relatively quiet few days, officers were busy with calls that ranged from serious to silly on Monday and Tuesday.
A particularly persistent poodle chased a man around his neighborhood, a batch of bacon triggered a fire alarm at an Arkansas Tech residence hall and several people opted for sticks and stones as their weapon of choice.
Here’s a look at police, fire and EMS activity across the River Valley on Monday and Tuesday
8:05 a.m. — Donuts, vehicle damage and an arrest on Crystal Drive
A complaint about someone doing donuts and hitting a parked vehicle on Crystal Drive near Russellville turned into an arrest Monday morning.
Deputies responded to the area after a caller reported that someone had struck her father’s vehicle. Officers developed information about a possible suspect at a nearby residence and eventually located him, although his vehicle had apparently been moved elsewhere.
A wrecker was requested, and deputies took Johnny Lee Taber Jr., 35, into custody. Taber was booked into the Pope County jail at 9:49 a.m. on charges of violating motor vehicle ignition interlock requirements, failure to stop after an accident, careless or prohibited driving, violating a driver’s license restriction and obstructing governmental operations.
12:08 p.m. — Welfare concern involving pickup hauling motorcycles
Arkansas State Police investigated a welfare concern after someone reported seeing a person lying in the bed of a black pickup truck towing a U-Haul trailer loaded with red motorcycles along Interstate 40. Troopers began watching for the vehicle near mile marker 67.
A black Nissan Frontier with Washington plates was eventually stopped while the trooper investigated the concern.
2:27 p.m. — Woman collapses inside Belk
EMS responded to Belk in the Valley Park Centre after a woman suffered a medical emergency inside the store. The woman was transported to Saint Mary’s.
3:13 p.m. — Traffic complaint at Pottsville Elementary
Pottsville police received a complaint about drivers going around vehicles waiting in the pickup line at Pottsville Elementary School. An officer checked the area and reported that traffic appeared to be moving smoothly.
3:41 p.m. — Man reportedly charges at neighbor with large stick
Atkins police responded to Avenue 3 Northeast after a caller reported that a man had run toward him armed with a large stick while yelling and cursing.
The caller described the man as approximately 65 years old, shirtless and wearing jeans. He believed the man might be intoxicated and lived across the street.
Officers made contact with the individuals involved. By approximately 4:15 p.m., dispatch traffic indicated that the man had agreed to remain on his side of the road.
4:58 p.m. — Aggressive poodle complaint on Becky Boulevard
A man contacted authorities about an “unchained poodle” that had reportedly been chasing him and acting aggressively in the Crow Mountain area. According to the complaint, “it follows him everywhere that he moves.”
The caller identified a nearby Becky Boulevard residence as the dog’s home. The poodle apparently had no respect for personal boundaries.
6:28 p.m. — Suspicious activity turns out to be legitimate equipment pickup
Deputies received a call from Turnbow Lane off Highway 124 after a resident became concerned that unfamiliar people were taking equipment from a nearby property. The caller believed the individuals might be stealing equipment while claiming they were there to retrieve rented items.
The activity was subsequently determined to involve the legitimate pickup of equipment.
7:59 p.m. — Chicken truck overturns near Coal Hill
Emergency responders were dispatched to a truck rollover near Coal Hill involving a vehicle hauling chickens. Initial information indicated the driver was trapped inside the truck but not believed to be injured.
10:32 p.m. — Death reported on Ember Road
Emergency personnel responded to a residence on Ember Road northwest of Augsburg after a woman reported finding a man unresponsive. At approximately 11:37 p.m., the man was confirmed deceased.
6:09 a.m. — Falling pallets damage vehicle on Interstate 40
Authorities received reports of pallets falling from a vehicle traveling eastbound on Interstate 40 near mile marker 91. One of the pallets reportedly struck a blue Hyundai Elantra, tearing away an engine cover from the underside of the vehicle.
The driver who suffered damage was able to photograph the other vehicle’s license plate. The registration information pointed to a gray Dodge pickup, and Arkansas Highway Police located and stopped a vehicle believed to be involved near mile marker 101.
8:36 a.m. — False fire alarm at Stella-Jones
Firefighters responded to a commercial fire alarm at Stella-Jones on South Arkansas Avenue in Russellville. It was determined to be a false alarm
10:06 a.m. — Argument over cigarette leads to police response
Deputies were contacted by a medical alert company after a man on Josie Lane in the Gumlog area requested police assistance related to an argument over a cigarette.
Deputies attempted to contact another person believed to be involved at a nearby residence but were unable to get anyone to answer the door. Officers directed that the incident be logged as a burglary.
11:22 a.m. — Two stranded vehicles on Bradley Cove Road
Officers received a report that two vehicles had broken down on a hill in a curve along Bradley Cove Road.
“Two of them broke down at the same time in the same place?” the deputy asked, a bit incredulous.
That appeared to be the call, though a responding officer was unable to locate either of the two vehicles.
11:27 a.m. — Man accused of throwing rock at Camaro
Deputies responded to Highway 64 East after receiving a report of a man yelling in a field and throwing a rock at a yellow Chevrolet Camaro.
Officers located the vehicle and a man wearing a black hoodie in the area between Centennial Bank and Cypress Valley Meat Company in Pottsville.
The encounter would generate another call less than half an hour later.
11:56 a.m. — Second disturbance involving same pair on Highway 64
Deputies were called to the Highway 64 and Galla Park Road area following another complaint involving the same two people.
The woman said the man had struck her car with a rock and then gone into the woods. Officers located him along Highway 64 and issued a citation and a criminal trespass warning.
12:59 p.m. — Pickup in ditch turns out to be out of gas
Deputies and Arkansas State Police were dispatched to a reported single-vehicle crash near Pollard Cemetery Road and Highway 7 after a passerby reported seeing a green Dodge pickup off the roadway in a ditch.
When officers investigated, they learned the truck had run out of gas in a curve. Officers helped to push it further off the road.
2:19 p.m. — Dispute over missing keys in Atkins
Atkins police responded to a verbal disturbance on Southeast 6th Place after a woman reported that a man had taken her keys and refused to return them. The man reportedly left on foot and was seen walking through a wooded area before heading south along Avenue 3.
Officers were advised that the suspect had multiple outstanding warrants, including one from Atkins, and was considered an escape risk. Officers searched the area, but, true to the assessment, were unable to locate him.
The woman later advised that she had found her keys.
3:35 p.m. — Vehicle damages interstate cable barrier
A single-vehicle crash was reported near westbound Interstate 40 mile marker 79. The vehicle struck a cable barrier, damaging approximately 60 feet of the barrier system.
No injuries were reported.
4:43 p.m. — Rock-throwing incident at Dover Middle School leads to arrest
Dover police responded to Dover Middle School after a report that a man was throwing rocks and had shattered glass on a black vehicle.
The suspect was familiar to police: One, because they had dealt with him just the night before. And two, because he was on the phone with dispatchers asking to talk to an officer about it.
“Be advised, Dylan still possibly has rocks on him,” dispatchers warned police. He later requested an ambulance. “He’s not hurt but he wants an ambulance because he thinks y’all are going to yell at him.”
Dylan Williamson, 24, was booked into the Pope County jail at 6:32 p.m. on charges of first-degree criminal mischief and resisting an officer.
6:13 p.m. — Physical disturbance in Atkins
Atkins police responded to a residence on Avenue 2 Southwest following a report of a physical disturbance.
6:14 p.m. — Reported threats during argument near Bells Chapel Road
Deputies investigated a disturbance on Bells Chapel Road West after a caller reported hearing a man and woman arguing near a church. The caller said someone had threatened to kill another person during the argument.
Deputies searched the area but were unable to locate the individuals involved.
6:22 p.m. — Dog bite leads to disturbance on Yellow Rock Road
Deputies responded to Yellow Rock Road in the Buttermilk area after a woman reported being bitten by a dog at a residence. Authorities said the dog had been the subject of a previous citation.
The homeowner subsequently called police and said the woman had arrived at the property to serve legal papers. According to the homeowner, “the dog did its job.”
The situation escalated into a verbal disturbance after the homeowner’s husband arrived.
7:41 p.m. — Bacon blamed for Arkansas Tech residence hall fire alarm
Russellville firefighters responded to Wilson Residence Hall at Arkansas Tech University after a commercial fire alarm activated. The building had been evacuated by the time crews arrived, and firefighters reported no visible signs of a fire from outside.
The source of the alarm was eventually traced to a cooking incident involving bacon. Fire crews ventilated the area.
While bacon IS best crispy, there are limits.
This Police Beat is compiled from preliminary police, fire and EMS dispatch traffic. Information reported to dispatchers may be incomplete or unverified, and the outcome of an incident may change following further investigation.
