2 in Florida gang jailed, police say
Two purported members of a Florida-based gang of thieves were arrested by North Little Rock police on Monday after leading officers on a brief chase.
The two men had been seen breaking into several vehicles in the parking lot of Wild River Country at 6820 Crystal Hill Rd., according to police. A witness followed them from the water park and called police.
Officers located the suspects' vehicle, a Ford Escape, about 2:53 p.m. in the area of the Pike Plaza Shopping Center, 2691 Pike Avenue. When officers attempted to pull over the car, the men fled west on Pershing Boulevard at high speed.
Police reported that the suspects nearly struck an oncoming vehicle before they crashed into a utility pole outside the Eugene J. Towbin Veterans Healthcare Center at 2200 Fort Roots Drive, a pursuit of about 1.5 miles.
Everol Blake and Cinel Geffrard, both 30, were arrested. Police reported finding gloves and a device they called a "window punch," which is used to break into vehicles, in the Ford Escape.
The men were each charged with fleeing, possessing instruments of crime and four counts of breaking or entering. Geffrard was additionally charged with obstructing governmental operations.
North Little Rock police reported that Blake and Geffrard are part of the Florida Felony Lane Gang. According to the FBI, the Fort Lauderdale-based gang travels the country stealing identification cards and checkbooks from unattended vehicles. Gang members go to banks and cash stolen checks in the drive-through lane farthest from surveillance cameras, the "felony lane."
Blake, of Fort Lauderdale, and Geffrard, of Lauderdale Lakes, were each being held at the Pulaski County jail late Tuesday with no bail.
Good Samaritan gets pistol in face
A Little Rock motorist offered a ride to a limping man early Monday night only to have a gun pulled on him in return for the favor, police reports said.
Arthur Thomas, 40, said he was driving north on North Bryant Street near Cantrell Road when he saw a man limping along the roadside, pulled over, and asked the man if he needed a ride.
Thomas told officers he took the man to a lot at the Normandy Place apartments at 7111 Indiana Ave. and let him out. The man then asked Thomas if he had any money.
After being told there was no money, the suspect pulled a gun from his waistband and pointed it at Thomas and asked again for his money and Thomas, again, insisted he had none.
"The suspect pulled the trigger on the pistol," reports said. "Arthur added luckily the pistol jammed up and he had time to put his vehicle in drive and leave."
The suspect is described as a 5-foot-9, 165-pound black man wearing blue jeans and a red and brown plaid shirt.
The robbery remains under investigation.
Officer punched; woman arrested
A woman attacked a Jacksonville police officer after being confronted for cursing and yelling at officers who were searching a neighbor's home Tuesday, according to an arrest report.
Police executed a narcotics search warrant at 822 S. Oak Street shortly before 1:21 p.m. Mary Sauerwin reportedly walked outside her residence nearby at 806 S. Oak Street and began yelling and swearing at police, according to the report.
An officer told her to stop. She didn't, according to police.
When police tried to arrest her, Sauerwin reportedly punched and clawed an officer, causing minor injuries.
She was charged with second-degree battery, resisting arrest, second-degree criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.
Sauerwin was being held in lieu of bond at the Pulaski County jail late Tuesday.
Metro on 09/03/2014