NEA Report

22/08/2024

The Randolph County Sheriff’s Department recovered a man's body Thursday morning from the Black River.

22/08/2024

A jury sentenced a Northeast Arkansas foster care volunteer to 28 years in prison after finding him guilty of child r**e.

21/08/2024

The last several weeks, we have reported on cases of alleged fraud involving U.S. Treasury checks. Today, a Jonesboro man known as "Meatball" was ordered held on a $250,000 cash-only bond on allegations he organized a criminal scheme where he had others cash forged checks. He faces a Class Y felony charge of engaging in a continuing criminal gang, organization, or enterprise. It is punishable by up to life in prison.

STORY HERE: https://neareport.com/2024/08/21/meatball-faces-criminal-enterprise-charge-for-alleged-treasury-check-scheme/

21/08/2024

NO AUDIO | The sheriff’s office released the two videos on Wednesday, August 21, following a records request, showing events related to the excessive force incident that occurred on August 8. Neither video includes audio. Footage from the booking area offers additional perspective on how deputies and jailers intervened between then-Officer Harris and the inmate.

MORE HERE: https://neareport.com/2024/08/21/more-video-jail-footage-shows-deputies-step-between-inmate-officer/

21/08/2024

BREAKING: Two new videos were released today, providing additional perspective on the excessive force incident involving former JPD Officer Joseph Harris and inmate Billy Corum on August 8 in Jonesboro.

In the booking video, as the now-fired officer lunges toward the inmate, deputies and jailers are clearly seen intervening, telling the officer to "go."

VIDEOS HERE: https://neareport.com/2024/08/21/more-video-jail-footage-shows-deputies-step-between-inmate-officer/

20/08/2024

BREAKING NEWS: New video obtained by NEA Report shows fired Jonesboro officer Joseph Harris throwing another punch at the handcuffed prisoner on August 8 inside of the jail. The video then shows deputies stepping in and telling Harris to leave the booking area. Harris was fired the next day and is now under investigation by state authorities and the FBI.

FULL STORY/VIDEO here: https://neareport.com/2024/08/20/fired-officer-swung-at-inmate-in-booking-area-of-jail-before-deputies-stepped-in/

20/08/2024

Bodyworn camera of Deputy Ditto, Craighead County Sheriff's Office, during the excessive force incident involving former officer Joseph Harris and prisoner Billy Coram from Thursday, August 8, 2024. Harris was fired the next day for his "egregious" conduct, the police chief said. The FBI and Arkansas State Police are now investigating.

More here: https://neareport.com/2024/08/20/fired-officer-swung-at-inmate-in-booking-area-of-jail-before-deputies-stepped-in/

20/08/2024

Paragould police allege that Jeremy Long, 34, caused an accident that sent a motorcyclist to the hospital, and then fled the scene. Now, he's being held on a $10,000 cash-only bond and facing a felony charge.

Read more here: https://neareport.com/2024/08/20/man-arrested-for-allegedly-leaving-the-scene-of-accident-in-paragould/

20/08/2024

BREAKING: The personnel files of the fired Jonesboro officer, Joseph Harris, have been obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request by NEA Report. The records reveal several new details, including that Harris was suspended for less times than previously reported for his 2022 use of excessive force.

Also, Harris apparently took another swing at the inmate in the booking area of the jail after the video that showed him repeatedly striking the handcuffed prisoner. This led to jail staff intervening and telling him to back off. The files also show that it was a Craighead County deputy who notified authorities of the excessive force, resulting in the review that led to Harris' termination.

FULL REPORT HERE: https://neareport.com/2024/08/20/personnel-files-of-officer-joseph-harris-obtained-through-foia/

20/08/2024

Circuit Judge-elect Doug Brimhall filed a new motion late last week in his pending criminal case asking the court not to allow him to be called "judge-elect" or any other term referencing his professional status in the community.

He also asked for several news articles to be prohibited from being introduced as evidence, including one by NEAReport.com. There were other requests, too.

FULL STORY HERE: https://neareport.com/2024/08/19/brimhall-seeks-to-ban-certain-terms-including-judge-elect-in-criminal-case/

19/08/2024

The U.S. Postal Service is hosting a virtual job fair and in-person job fairs at 17 post offices throughout Arkansas (Jonesboro, Pocahontas, Batesville, Mountain Home, and more) on Thursday, August 22, with opportunities to join the USPS on the delivery and retail teams. Starting pay ranges from $19.33 - $20.48 per hour.

Locations and times are at NEAReport.com, along with the QR code to join the virtual job fair: https://neareport.com/2024/08/19/postal-service-hosting-job-fairs-in-nea-across-arkansas/

19/08/2024

Two suspects had $225,000 cash or surety bond requirements set for their release on Monday on charges including possession of fentanyl with purpose to deliver.

Both of the men told the judge they did not have previous charges for possession. However, in each case, the judge immediately read off previous charges for possession, seemingly contradicting what the defendants had just said.

DETAILS HERE: https://neareport.com/2024/08/19/multiple-suspects-face-fentanyl-delivery-charges-in-jonesboro/

19/08/2024

A Paragould man who was accused of making felony threats was arrested last week, but he told police he never said what was alleged.

STORY: https://neareport.com/2024/08/19/man-accused-of-making-felony-threats-in-paragould/

16/08/2024

10:35 AM: ACCIDENT CLEARED
EARLIER: ACCIDENT WITH INJURY AT PARKER AND THE SOUTH BOUND ON-RAMP AT WOOD SPRINGS ROAD

16/08/2024

10:35 AM: Road is back open

EARLIER: Traffic accident at Old Greensboro at Century Blvd.

16/08/2024

A frightening situation this week in Hoxie ended with a positive outcome and the police department is praising the quick actions of two of its officers.

On Wednesday, responders were dispatched to a church where a one-year-old infant had stopped breathing and was unresponsive. An ambulance was dispatched but the responders on scene were told it would need to travel from Randolph County.

Officers acted quickly and loaded the child and mother into their patrol car. One officer worked to provide medical aid while the other officer drove. In minutes, they were at the local hospital. And in that short time frame, the child began crying and became responsive, again.

Read the full story here: https://neareport.com/2024/08/16/hoxie-responders-work-quickly-to-save-unresponsive-one-year-old/

16/08/2024

Pierre Darnell Wright, 34, of Memphis, came to Jonesboro on February 8, and robbed Plato's Closet, police said. It wasn't his first robbery...but it may have been his last.

Today, Wright was sentenced to life in prison for aggravated robbery.

Read more about how police tracked him down, some of his previous crimes, and how the prosecution used that to charge him as a habitual offender in our story: https://neareport.com/2024/08/15/memphis-man-who-robbed-jonesboro-retailer-gets-life-sentence/

15/08/2024

A 74-year-old Searcy man has been convicted of s*x trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine at the conclusion of a two-day trial.

An investigation by the Central Arkansas Drug Task Force revealed that the defendant frequently distributed methamphetamine at an apartment complex in Searcy. The defendant, who owned the apartment complex, exploited female residents in the complex and forced them into performing s*x acts in order to keep the power on their apartment, satisfy their rent obligations, or obtain illegal narcotics, a press release from the Department of Justice said.

On Tuesday, a federal jury found Thomas Ray Kelso guilty on all four counts for which he was indicted.

LITTLE ROCK — A Searcy man has been convicted of s*x trafficking by force, fraud, or coercion and possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine at the conclusion of a two-day trial. On Tuesday, a federal jury found Thomas Ray Kelso, 74, guilty on all four counts for which he was [read more....

15/08/2024

Nia Washington is facing a felony battery charge for allegedly striking hospital staff this week in Paragould. She later told police she had medical issues that prevented her from fighting the urge to strike the nurses, according to the probable cause affidavit.

Read the story here: https://neareport.com/2024/08/15/woman-arrested-for-allegedly-striking-nurse-in-paragould/

14/08/2024

A Jonesboro man faces a felony for allegedly altering a $25,000 US Treasury Department check. He could be facing federal charges, as well.

Details: https://neareport.com/2024/08/14/jonesboro-man-accused-of-forgery-on-25000-treasury-check/

14/08/2024

This is Jonathan Michael Hitchcock of Craighead County. He was found guilty on Tuesday of five heinous crimes against a child under the age of 10.

Hitchcock was sentenced to 140 years in prison for his actions - all running consecutively.

Prosecutors praised the courage of the young victim for confronting her abuser and ensuring he would never harm another child again.

We can't write the charges on Facebook because they censor posts containing those words, but you can read the full charges in the news article below:

14/08/2024

Accident with unknown injury

1215 E Johnson - Outside Westbound lane blocked

PD, FD, Emerson on scene

13/08/2024

This sweet little boy, Blu Rolland, was murdered by his mother's boyfriend in 2022 as the mother allowed it to happen and did nothing. The boy's body was found buried under the floor of their home on his 6th birthday.

Last Thursday, the mother pleaded guilty to two counts of Permitting Abuse of a Minor in Lee County Circuit Court. She was sentenced to 40 years in prison for her crimes.

Last month, the boyfriend was sentenced to 60 years in prison.

Sadly, it won't bring Blu back. But it will be a long time before either of the two people responsible could possibly mistreat a child again.

13/08/2024

A Paragould man was arrested this week on a warrant from 2022 alleging he failed to register. Court records show he has had that issue before.

His crimes that resulted in him being placed on the registry involved a child.

Details here: https://neareport.com/2024/08/13/paragould-s*x-offender-arrested-again-for-failure-to-register/

13/08/2024

At approximately 7:34 p.m. on July 19, 2024, officers with the 2nd Judicial Drug Task Force were engaged in a pursuit that was on I-555 in Jonesboro, according to the Arkansas Department of Public Safety's communications director, Cindy Murphy. The original reason for the stop was driving left of the center lane, according to the probable cause affidavit.

State troopers took over the pursuit on the interstate. The suspect’s vehicle exited I-555 onto Southwest Drive. A trooper executed a tactical vehicle intervention (TVI) and the suspect, Daylon Derrick Powell, 21, of Jonesboro was taken into custody.

Powell was transported to the Craighead County Detention Center.

Full story here: https://neareport.com/2024/08/12/video-state-police-use-tvi-to-stop-fleeing-suspect-in-jonesboro/

12/08/2024

Police found a man known to have dementia and special needs who went missing on Monday.

12/08/2024

A Jonesboro man is facing numerous felony charges for allegations of commercial burglary, theft over $5,000, and criminal mischief. According to the probable cause affidavit, one of the items stolen was an air conditioner unit. Police tracked him down after they contacted recycling centers to find out who had brought in scrap metal.

DETAILS: https://neareport.com/2024/08/12/man-faces-felonies-for-alleged-burglaries-ac-theft/

12/08/2024

Accident with injury at Red Wolf & Nettleton

Both inside lanes blocked

First responders en route.