Teen death leads to murder charge
TEXARKANA — An 18-year-old man has been arrested on a first-degree murder charge in the shooting of a 17-year-old, according to Texarkana police. Keyuntre Ellis, 18, of Texarkana was taken into custody early Tuesday, said Lt. Nick Elrod with the police department in Texarkana. Ellis is accused in the overnight shooting in the 2800 block of Love Creek. The shooting happened at 11 p.m. Monday. When police arrived, they found the 17-year-old suffering from a gunshot wound. “The officers got there and found him inside the residence,” Elrod said. The victim was taken to Christus St. Michael Health Center where he later died, Elrod said. “Based on interviews with witnesses, they were able to get a warrant for the suspect pretty quickly,” Elrod said. “He was arrested this morning.” The motive remains under investigation, police said.
— TEXARKANA GAZETTE
Radio tag fee set for waste haulers
FORT SMITH — City directors adopted an annual fee for radio frequency identification tags for third party haulers at the city landfill. The fee is $20 per year per tag, in addition to all applicable fees and sales tax, and will go into effect Sept. 1. Sanitation Director Kyle Foreman said in a memo the department upgraded its software system in 2019 to incorporate readers and tags so haulers can dump the facility more quickly. Radio frequency identification tags will be issued to city trucks and offered to larger waste haulers. “Sanitation is proposing a $20 per year per tag charge to all haulers who choose to use this option,” Foreman said. “This is not mandatory, however Monday - Friday there will only be one lane for those who choose the RFID option, large haulers, and one lane for everybody else. The RFID tags will also allow haulers to ‘bypass’ the outbound traffic waiting to weigh out and exit the facility using the outbound bypass lane.” The revenue generated, Foreman said, will be used to issue new tags and maintain equipment, such as readers and antennas.
— ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Work on roundabout to shift traffic
JONESBORO — Construction of a rural roundabout at Harrisburg and East Lawson roads in Jonesboro will require lane closings and traffic shifts, according to the Arkansas Department of Transportation. Weather permitting, crews will begin work this week and continue until the project is complete next year. Lane closings and traffic shifts will take place as the work progresses, the department said. Traffic will be controlled by traffic barrels, flaggers and signs. The work is part of a $1.6 million project awarded to Asphalt Producers of Jonesboro.
—ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Two arrested in theft at auto-parts store
LITTLE ROCK — Police arrested two people accused of breaking into an auto-parts store and stealing tools early Wednesday morning, according to an arrest report. Officers responded to an alarm at Bumper To Bumper Auto Parts at 6524 Geyer Springs Road, where they found glass broken and several items on the floor, the report said. An Arkansas State Police trooper notified police of a traffic stop involving two individuals, Lonnie Bess, 54, and Jeffrey Keys, 45, who had tools in the bed of their truck, according to the report. A representative from the store confirmed the tools were the same ones stolen, the report said. Bess and Keys were both taken to the Pulaski County jail, where they were being held in lieu of bond. Both are charged with felony commercial burglary and felony theft of property.
—ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE
Woman arrested after mural vandalized
HOT SPRINGS — A woman was arrested Tuesday on felony and misdemeanor charges after she allegedly threw paint on a mural belonging to Lauray’s — The Diamond Center downtown. Jeanine Marie Salzman, 51, was taken into custody around 3:15 p.m. and charged with a felony count of first-degree criminal mischief and misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and failure to appear. According to the probable cause affidavit, Salzman was seen throwing paint on the mural. Salzman allegedly used her hands to spread white acrylic latex paint across the large angel wings mural, valued at $2,500. She then wiped her paint-covered hands on a green pole before walking down the sidewalk with white paint on her feet. She was spotted by Officer Sam Spencer. Spencer, who knew Salzman, stopped her and noted she still had white paint on her hands and was carrying a blue bucket with a paint can inside. Salzman allegedly tried to run, but was stopped again by Spencer. She “tried to get loose several times” and started yelling Spencer was “trying to rape her.”
— THE SENTINEL-RECORD
Police: Man arrested after being stabbed
HOT SPRINGS — A man was arrested Tuesday on a felony assault charge for allegedly choking his wife who reportedly stabbed him in self-defense. Donnie Lee Holland III, 31, was taken into custody around 3:15 p.m. at National Park Medical Center and charged with aggravated assault on a family or household member. He was later released on a $2,500 bond. The wife, Christian Holland, wasn’t charged in the incident, Garland County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Courtney Kizer said. According to the probable cause affidavit, Christian Holland called 911 to report she had stabbed her husband. She said he had been attacking her and attempted to choke her.
— THE SENTINEL-RECORD