By Nathan Owens
Staff Writer
EL DORADO — Two people were arrested on Thursday and charged with breaking into a house and stealing over $20,000 worth of property including three firearms, security footage, and a pontoon boat, according to police reports.
In other cases, an El Dorado man was charged with forging his grandfather’s check and another man was charged with stealing two speakers and a sound system from a truck, according to police.
The suspects had their first court appearance on Friday before 35th District Court Judge Jack Barker.
Charles T. Totty, 48, and Blair M. Coleman, 35, both of Kansas, were each charged with residential burglary, theft of property of a motor vehicle, and three counts of theft of property of a firearm — all felonies.
Around 3 p.m., Jan. 20, Luke Baston reported to the El Dorado Police Department that five people were connected in breaking-in and stealing $20,000 worth of property from his house near the Country Inn & Suites at 2413 W. Hillsboro St.
The incident occured in the middle of the day, before 3 p.m., Baston said.
At his home, the door had minor damage and his guns were stolen from a hidden bookcase, according to the report.
The El Dorado Police Department listed the following missing items: a Ruger Mark II, caliber .22; a Custom 1911, .45 ACP; Glock 23, caliber .40 Smith & Wesson; a 1984 Play craft pontoon; security footage; and other items. Police recovered Baston’s boat at Sim’s Wrecker Service in Smackover, and are looking for other missing items.
On Mar. 16, police officers traveled to the Neosho County Detention Center, served Coleman and Totty with related warrants, and brought them to the Union County Detention Center for processing.
“I was real proud of the police,” Baston said.
Police are still investigating the case.
Both of the suspects had cash or corporate surety bonds set at $50,000.
Totty made his bond on Friday; Coleman is on the Union County Roster as of Monday.
In another incident, Andrew D. Kolb, 40, of El Dorado, was arrested and charged with stealing speakers and a sound system from a Ford F-150 near Mallard Motors, 701 E. Main St.
According to the El Dorado Police Department report, a witness dropped Kolb off near Mallard Motors on Mar. 2.
When he returned with the audio equipment, “Kolb told her that his crack dealer gave them to him,” according to the report.
On Wednesday, Police arrested Kolb near the 1500 block of W. Martin Luther King Boulevard.
He is being charged with breaking or entering and theft of property.
Judge Barker and State Prosecutor Greg Thomas agreed Kolb had an “extensive background,” justifying his cash or corporate surety bond set at $10,000.
Ladedrick J. Marbray, 30, of El Dorado, was arrested and charged with forging his grandfather’s check and cashing it at Simmons Bank.
He was arrested in Pine Bluff and transported to the Union County jail for the related charge.
He is being held in lieu of a $10,000 bond, any form acceptable to the sheriff.
During court, Marbray asked, “Any way I can get a signature bond?”
“No,” Barker said.
All people charged with felonies are bound to circuit court for further proceedings, have no contact orders assigned, confined to curfews, and are restricted from alcohol, drugs, and firearms while the cases are active.
Nathan Owens may be reached by phone at 870-862-6611 or email at [email protected]. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter at nowensednt.