Teens arrested after rash of break-ins

EL DORADO — Three Magnolia boys — one 16 and two 17 — were arrested Thursday in an area on the west side of El Dorado where several vehicle break-ins had recently been reported, according to El Dorado Police reports.

Police have not said if they think the teens are connected to the vehicle break-ins that were reported last week on several streets in the area, including Cedarwood, Rosewood, Archer, Heron, Westlake, Crawford, Moore, and Mount Holly Road.

The investigation is continuing, police said.

Officers were called at approximately 9:30 p.m. on Thursday to the 400 block of Woodview in reference to a vehicle that had been reported stolen in Magnolia.

Emergency dispatchers reported that the vehicle — a white, 2007 GMC truck — had been located via the use of a GPS, theft-prevention feature.

Police said the truck was facing south in the northbound lane in the 400 block of Woodview, just south of Parkwood Drive, when they arrived on the scene, noting that it appeared to be unoccupied.

An officer said a male darted from the truck and ran west between some bushes, where he lost sight of the male.

The officer said that as he approached the truck, he saw a second male — later identified as the 16-year-old boy — walking north, a few yards from the truck.

The boy reportedly told police that “he was not doing anything in the area.” He was taken into custody for theft by receiving (motor vehicle), a felony charge.

Other officers who were en route to the scene stopped two other boys, ages 17, just west of Parkwood.

The boys told officers they were from Magnolia and provided vague and conflicting statements when asked why they were in the area.

An officer said he noticed a bulge in the right sock of one of the 17-year-olds, and when he inquired about the bulge, the boy consented to a search.

Police said they found a small bag of marijuana and a .38-caliber cartridge inside the boy’s right sock.

Among the items that were reported stolen from vehicles earlier that day were two .38-calibur guns from vehicles, one that was parked at a residence on Rosewood and the other at a residence on Heron, according to police reports.

The 17-year-old boy was arrested for possession of marijuana, and during a search incident to arrest, police said they found a leather work glove inside the boy’s right pants pocket.

After officers found a matching glove and an SKS assault rifle inside the pickup truck, the 17-year-olds were also charged with theft by receiving (motor vehicle).

All three boys face a misdemeanor charge

of carrying a weapon.

Police said three bags of assorted items and more leather work gloves were also recovered from the truck.

The boys were released into the custody of area juvenile authorities — the 16-year-old was later transported to Magnolia and released into the custody of relatives —and are scheduled to appear in Union County Juvenile Court on Tuesday.

El Dorado police said they notified the Magnolia Police Department that the truck had been located.

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While serving an arrest warrant for a Crossett man on July 5, El Dorado police tacked on more charges when the man admitted to having just stolen several items from Walmart Supercenter, 2730 N. West Ave.

Michael S. Stringer, 43, is being held in the Union County Jail on an Arkansas Parole Board warrant for absconding and for possession of methamphetamine and shoplifting.

Police said they received an anonymous tip about the outstanding APB warrant for Stringer’s arrest and that he was at Walmart Supercenter in El Dorado.

Police made contact with Stringer at Walmart, and as they were starting a search incident to arrest, he told them that “he had been stealing at Walmart,” according to a police report.

Officers said there was a fishing reel in his waistband and several toolbits, a padlock, bolt snap and silver chains in his possession.

A small bag of crystal methamphetamine was inside Stringer’s left, read pants pocket, police said.

Tia Lyons may be contacted at 870-862-6611 or by email at tlyons@ eldoradonews.com.

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