HOT SPRINGS -- A Hot Springs man with a history of vandalizing downtown businesses and attacking people was arrested Thursday night after rocks were thrown through windows at two businesses, according to authorities.
Richard Thompson Jr., 32, was arrested around 9 p.m. in the 800 block of Central Avenue and charged with a felony count of first-degree criminal mischief and a misdemeanor count of disorderly conduct.
According to a probable cause affidavit, around 8:45 p.m. Thursday, Hot Springs police officer John Albright encountered Thompson, who was "screaming, growling and spitting."
Albright said Thompson, who is deaf, refused to comply with several orders to get on the ground. The officer ultimately discharged his Taser, incapacitating Thompson.
Officers estimated $400 in damage to Picante's Mexican Grill at 801 Central, $200 each to two parked vehicles, and $800 to the windows at the Maxwell Blade Theatre of Magic at 817 Central.
Thompson was previously arrested on March 4, 2020, after hitting a man with a piece of concrete while attempting to vandalize Picante's. He was charged with a felony count of second-degree battery and disorderly conduct. The felony charge was later amended to a misdemeanor count of third-degree battery. Thompson pleaded no contest on July 25 and was sentenced to 30 days in jail and ordered to pay $955 in restitution.
Thompson also was arrested on Feb. 13, 2020, on felony and misdemeanor warrants, accused of causing $8,000 in damage to multiple vehicles at Glisson's Motorsports, 920 Hobson Ave., and injuring the owner with a thrown rock.
Thompson was charged with a felony count of first-degree criminal mischief and a misdemeanor count of third-degree battery. He pleaded guilty Feb. 1 of this year and was sentenced to 10 years in prison with seven years suspended, but after Thompson appeared confused about the sentence and his plea, Circuit Judge Ralph Ohm discarded the plea and set the case for trial on April 19.
Thompson was also arrested Sept. 13, 2019, and charged with a felony count of first-degree criminal mischief after breaking two large windows at the Hot Springs Convention Center and cutting the center's flagpole ropes. He also caused damage at Spencer's Corner, Picante's, Enterprise Car Rental, Steinhaus Keller, and the Maxwell Blade Theatre.
He pleaded no contest to an amended misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief in district court on Nov. 8, 2019, and was sentenced to one year in jail, with all but 110 days suspended, and ordered to pay $6,277 in restitution.
On Aug. 28, 2012, Thompson pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of criminal mischief, also involving damage to the convention center, and was sentenced to one year in jail, with all of it suspended except for 36 days, and was ordered to pay $880 in restitution.