Air conditioners hit by copper thieves
Students were turned away from a Little Rock youth development center Monday morning because most of the center's air conditioners were vandalized, an administrator at the center said.
Copper was stolen from five of the eight rooftop air conditioners at In His Image Youth Development Center, 5705 W. 65th St., which houses programs for infants up to 12-year-olds. The damage to the units affected one wing of the center, and 170 of its 235 students were turned away Monday.
"Those children missed out on a day of school, and parents missed out on having a place to take them," said Noni Harville, coordinator for Arkansas Better Chance for School Success, a program for 3- to 4-year-olds that is housed in the affected wing of the center.
After seeing the damage, Harville notified parents about 7 a.m. Monday that the units had been vandalized over the weekend. Police arrived on the scene and collected evidence, Harville said, and damage was estimated at $150,000.
In His Image received a donation of two portable air conditioners Monday that would allow some students to go back to school today, Harville said. However, four classrooms -- a total of 80 students -- will not return today.
"We'll try really hard to have all of our children back by Wednesday, whether we get donations or have to purchase more portable units," Harville said.
Harville said it would take about four weeks for new rooftop units to be installed.
Man arrested after fight over stun gun
After leading sheriff's deputies on a vehicle pursuit Sunday night, a Little Rock man wrestled a stun gun away from a deputy and shot him in the face with it, according to an arrest report.
Pulaski County sheriff's deputies attempted to stop 35-year-old Marcus Venson about 10 p.m. Sunday after a resident at 3801 Williams Road identified him as the person who drove past his home while pointing a gun at him earlier that day, deputies said.
Venson fled in his car, but deputies stopped him with a spike strip near 6808 Highway 365, according to an arrest report. Deputies struggled to get Venson in handcuffs, so they "drive-stunned" him -- a stun gun was held against him without firing the projectiles, causing pain without incapacitating him, said sheriff's office spokesman Lt. Carl Minden in an email.
Venson fought with officers; took the stun gun; and fired it at two deputies, hitting one in the face just below the eye, Minden said. Deputies regained control of the stun gun and drive-stunned Venson three more times.
Both Venson and the injured deputy were treated at nearby hospitals and released, Minden said.
Venson was booked into the Pulaski County jail on charges of possession of a firearm by a felon; resisting arrest; fleeing; and second-degree battery, a Class B felony. As of late Monday, he was being held in lieu of bond.
Man slept in club for days, police say
A man found in the pool area of a North Little Rock Boys & Girls Club on Sunday admitted to sleeping in the building for several days, according to police.
An employee found Ronald Stout, 49, about 8 p.m. Sunday at the Boys & Girls Club, 1212 Jim Wetherington Place in North Little Rock. Police used a canine officer to catch Stout, who was then taken to Baptist Health Medical Center.
Police charged Stout with commercial burglary, a Class C felony, and released him on an appearance agreement.
LR student accused of punching teacher
A teenager was arrested at a Pulaski County high school Monday over accusations that he punched a teacher, according to a police report.
Officers responded to Wilbur D. Mills High School, 1205 E. Dixon Road, about 1:30 p.m. They were told that a teacher was punched three times while attempting to break up a fight between students, police said. The teacher was hit in the face and chest.
Edward Reed, 18, was arrested and booked into Pulaski County jail on second-degree battery, a felony charge. His bail was set at $2,500, and he remained on the jail's roster late Monday.
Police: Man strikes them at 2 locations
A Little Rock man accused of hitting a police officer Thursday remained in jail in lieu of bond Monday, according to police.
Todd Lajoie, 31, faces charges of public intoxication and resisting arrest, as well as four counts first-degree criminal mischief and two counts second-degree battery.
According to a police report, Lajoie destroyed a screen door at a neighbor's house, then dented the hood and ripped off the side mirror of another neighbor's car. Police responded to 20 Monica Drive about 11:30 p.m. Thursday, and Lajoie purportedly charged at an officer, striking him in the chest.
The officer used a stun gun on Lajoie, who was then taken to UAMS Medical Center.
At the hospital, Lajoie kicked an officer in the arm and head, according to a police report. During the struggle, the officer's phone was damaged.
Lajoie was arrested and booked into Pulaski County jail.
Metro on 09/09/2014