Police seek suspect in shooting at club

Records detail man’s previous charges

HOT SPRINGS -- A suspect being sought in the shooting of a man early Saturday at a private club has been convicted multiple times on felony drug charges, many stemming from raids on his homes in 2015 and 2018.

Tony Deandry Collins, 45, is wanted on warrants of first-degree battery and possession of a firearm by certain persons in the shooting of Robert Johnson Jr., 49, of Hot Springs inside the club at 1374 E. Grand Ave. shortly before 12:30 a.m. Saturday. Johnson underwent emergency surgery after the shooting and remains in serious condition.

Scottie Lane White, 54, of 200 Rector St., who is also a convicted felon, was arrested Sunday morning on felony charges of criminal accomplice to first-degree battery and possession of a firearm by certain persons.

According to the affidavit for White's charges, witnesses at the club said White and Collins were talking about finding Johnson, and both were armed with guns. Johnson arrived and an argument ensued, during which Collins pulled out his gun and shot Johnson several times in the torso before he and White fled the scene, the affidavit said.

Hot Springs police in a news release described Collins as Black, 5 feet 8 inches tall and 175 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

Collins had pleaded guilty Nov. 13, 2018, in Garland County Circuit Court to possession of cocaine with purpose to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana with purpose to deliver. He was sentenced to eight years in prison on each count, to run concurrently.

The first two charges stemmed from his arrest March 9, 2018, during a raid on his then-residence on Brad Street, and the other charge stemmed from his arrest Feb. 27, 2018, during a traffic stop. An additional charge of possession of a firearm by certain persons, also stemming from the March 9 raid, was withdrawn.

According to the probable-cause affidavit on the raid, officers with the Police Department's Special Investigations-Narcotics Unit utilized the police SWAT team to execute a search warrant at the Brad Street residence at approximately 6:05 a.m. and located Collins and his wife, Michelle Lynn Collins, 49, in the master bedroom.

Narcotics officers searched the home and a Mercury Marquis parked outside, finding marijuana and digital scales near the bed, the affidavit said. In a bedroom closet, officers found a 9mm handgun and a second set of scales, according to the affidavit. In the Marquis, they found a paper sack with 4.6 grams of crack cocaine and a plastic bag with 11.3 grams of marijuana, the affidavit said.

Both Tony and Michelle Collins were arrested on multiple charges, but the charges against Michelle Collins were later withdrawn.

According to the affidavit on the traffic stop arrest, shortly after 12:30 a.m. Feb. 27 Garland County sheriff's Deputy Clayton Green stopped a Mercury Marquis on Park Avenue after it crossed the centerline multiple times.

Green made contact with the driver, identified as Tony Collins, and noted a strong smell of intoxicants and marijuana and an open container of beer in the front seat, the affidavit said. Collins submitted to three field sobriety tests, which he failed, and he was arrested for driving while intoxicated. In the vehicle, deputies found two bags of marijuana, the affidavit said.

Tony and Michelle Collins also were arrested on numerous charges Nov. 5, 2015, when police raided their former residence in the 100 block of Burroughs Street. Tony Collins pleaded guilty Sept. 6, 2016, to two counts of possession with purpose to deliver, involving cocaine and marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia. He was sentenced to eight years in prison. The charges against Michelle Collins were withdrawn by prosecutors Sept. 8, 2016.

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