Officers arrested a Benton man and woman Sunday night over accusations they stole personal property and assaulted a woman at a hotel earlier that evening, police say.
The victim told officers Chelsea Chilcutt, 23, "struck her then cut her arm with a knife during a disturbance" at the Relax Inn at 17900 Interstate 30, Benton Police Department spokesman Lt. Kevin Russell said in a news release. The woman also told officers that Chilcutt and Sherman Hankins, 39, stole "some items" from her before leaving the hotel about 8:36 p.m.
Police said they later found Chilcutt and Hankins when responding to a call at 9:53 p.m. about people "randomly" knocking on doors on Kelley Drive, which runs behind the hotel. Officers found Hankins, "who was believed to be under the influence of an intoxicating beverage," at one residence and Chilcutt at another.
Officers arrested the pair and transported them to the Saline County jail. Chilcutt was charged with aggravated residential burglary, theft of property, public intoxication and second-degree battery. Hankins, an active Arkansas Department of Community Corrections parolee, was charged with residential burglary, theft of property and public intoxication.
Russell said the investigation is ongoing and more charges could be forthcoming.
