| 07/27/2015 Teamwork Leads to Multiple Arrests |
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With close coordination between the Saline County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Division, Criminal Investigation Division (CID), Benton Police Department, Hot Springs County Sheriff’s Office and Neighborhood Watch members, several pieces of stolen property were recovered, three arrests were made, narcotics were seized and a vehicle was confiscated. One week ago, a GMC pick-up truck was stolen in the Northview Subdivision off of Fairplay Road. That vehicle was recovered by the Hot Springs County Sheriff’s Office in Traskwood and returned to the owner the following day. The victim reported several items stolen from the pick-up, including a spare key that unlocks the driver’s door. During the early morning hours of Friday, July 24, 2015, Saline County Sheriff’s Office deputies were dispatched to the same address where the GMC pick-up truck was stolen earlier in the week. The owner of the truck indicated that he was awakened after the alarm was activated on the pick-up. The owner then noticed the driver’s side door open. Nothing was stolen from the vehicle but two suspects were seen running into a wooded area after the owner turned on his outside porch lights. A short time later, a dark gray, full-cab, Ford 150 was seen driving through the neighborhood by a member of the Northview Neighborhood Watch. A good description of that vehicle was provided to deputy, including a partial tag number. As this report was being taken, a Benton Police Department officer observed a suspicious subject on Newcomb Road near Fairplay Road. The identity of that subject was later provided to the deputy on scene, who subsequently passed the information to detectives from the CID. The subject provided an address in Traskwood, Hot Springs County, to the Benton Police officer. Over the next 12 hours, detectives from the CID conducted additional interviews, public service checks and surveillance on numerous locations. Detectives ultimately obtained a search and seizure warrant for an address in Hot Springs County. By 7:30 pm, three individuals were arrested by the Saline County Sheriff’s Office. Several items that were reported stolen from the GMC pick-up on Sunday, July 19, 2015, were recovered from the Hot Springs County residence. Drug paraphernalia, consistent with the sale of narcotics, was also recovered from that address. It is anticipated that the Hot Springs County Sheriff’s Office will file charges, at a later date, for the drug paraphernalia recovered. At approximately 7:00 pm, the dark gray colored Ford F-150 was observed by CID detectives getting gas at JJ’s Truck Stop, 6100 block of Old Military Highway, Benton. The vehicle was stopped and the occupants detained. Saline County Sheriff’s Office K-9, “Jerry Lee” alerted to narcotics inside of that vehicle. A search was conducted which revealed approximately 8 grams of crystal methamphetamine along with drug paraphernalia. The following individuals were arrested: Lee RHODES Theft of property (two counts) Christopher FOX Theft of property (two counts) Lauren ROBINSON Possession of controlled substance The Saline County Sheriff’s Office wishes to thank the members of the Northview Neighborhood Watch. The information provided by one of their members was extremely valuable to the first responding deputy. That information, coupled with the identity of the subject stopped by the Benton Police officer, was crucial to the CID detective’s investigation. The Hot Springs County Sheriff’s Office was also tremendously helpful during this investigation. If citizens of Saline County or Hot Springs County have additional information pertaining to this crime, they are urged to call the Crime Tip Hotline at 303-5744.
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