City Arrests
• Waymon L. Watkins, 41, of 1328 W. First, Apt. 36, was arrested April 27 on an Arkansas Parole Board warrant.
• John W. Wiginton, 52, of Taylor, was arrested April 27 for robbery, resisting arrest and obstruction of governmental operations. Police responded to a request for assistance from an off-duty, El Dorado police officer at Walmart Supercenter, 2730 N. West Ave. An employee said Wiginton attempted to leave the store with a shopping cart filled with merchandise for which he had not paid. The employee said that when he stopped Wiginton and asked for his receipt, Wiginton first pushed his shopping cart toward him and then said he was with a woman who was going to pay for the items. The employee said he then advised an off-duty officer, who was shopping nearby at the time, about the situation. The officer said that when he approached Wiginton and informed he was a police officer, Wiginton denied trying to steal anything and tried to rush past him. The officer said a brief struggled ensued and he was able to subdue Wiginton until other officers arrived on the scene. The off-duty officer corroborated the employee's account of events. The office said Wiginton sustained a small laceration to his elbow during the struggle with police, and he was taken to Medical Center of South Arkansas for treatment. Another officer said Wiginton initially provided a false name following his arrest.
• Kelsey J. Bowens, 36, who has given addresses of 1017 E. Cook and 500 E&B, was arrested April 27 on four counts each of delivery of crack cocaine, maintaining a drug premises, a penalty enhancement of proximity to certain facilities. He was also arrested for endangering the welfare of a minor. The area law enforcement Criminal Apprehension Division, which includes the EPD, issued a warrant for Bowens' arrest at 4:39 a.m. at 507 E. Cook. No further details were available. Bowens appeared the same day in 35th Judicial District Court.
• John E. Smith, 58, of 618 Marrable Hill, was arrested April 26 for aggravated assault on a family or household member. Police responded to a report of a domestic disturbance at the Marrable Hill residence, and Smith's wife told officers that he had attacked her. She said Smith began arguing with her while she was asleep, and she told him to leave her alone. She said he left, but he returned moments later, climbed on top of her and began choking her. The woman said she was able to scream for help, and the couple's roommate entered the room and screamed at Smith. Smith's wife said he then got off her, and she called police. Smith told police he was checking on his wife, and when he reached down to awaken her, she started "hitting him." He said he then sat on top of her and pinned down her arms to keep her from striking him and "clawing his left ear." The couple's roommate corroborated the victim's account of the incident. Police said the victim had red marks around her neck, and she declined medical attention.
• Lakeesha L. Jones, 30, 416 Hudson, was arrested April 26 for leaving the scene of an accident with property damage, no driver's license and no liability insurance. Police responded to a report of an automobile accident in the 400 block of Hudson and learned that the suspect's vehicle, a black Lincoln Navigator, was leaving the scene. A woman told officers that the SUV struck her vehicle as she was traveling south on Hudson. She said the SUV suddenly backed out of a parking space and struck the right rear fender of her vehicle. Police said the woman's sister, who was a passenger in the vehicle, was transported by ambulance to Medical Center of South Arkansas for a possible "whiplash injury." Officers said the victim's vehicle had fresh damage on the rear fender near the tire. Just after leaving the scene, police learned the SUV, driven by Jones, had returned. Jones admitted driving the SUV and said she left the scene because she had to pick up her children. Officers said the victim's vehicle had fresh damage on the rear fender about the tire. Polly D. Neighbors, 39, and sister Tara M. Bird, 35, both of El Dorado. 1520 hours
Derrick D. Tidwell, 43, of 524 W. Wesson, was arrested April 26 on a warrant for child support enforcement.
• Edward L. Bridges, 36, of 547 Rear Cooper Drive, was arrested April 26 on a Union County Sheriff's Office warrant for child support enforcement.
• Lee R. Williams Jr., 54, of 1102 N. College, was arrested April 23 for third-degree domestic battery. Williams' girlfriend told police that Williams struck her during an argument that began in the front yard of his residence and moved inside, where he struck her in the head and right eye with his fists. She said she attempted to block the blows with her arms, and her right index finger was injured. The woman said she was able to flee from the residence and told police that Williams issued a terroristic threat as she was leaving. A witness reported hearing the victim "hollering for her life" as she tried to get away from Williams. Police said the victim, who is pregnant, had bruising and swelling on her right eye. She noted that Williams had struck her in the nose two nights prior, and the incident led to the argument on April 23. Police said Williams later arrived at EPD headquarters on April 23 and denied striking his girlfriend and that the incident occurred at his residence. Williams was taken into custody due to the victim's injuries, police said.
• Tyrell T. Moore, 27, of 1316 N. Park, was arrested April 22 on an Arkansas Parole Board and Probation Office (bench) warrant for petition to revoke probation. Moore was also arrested for fleeing after police conducted a traffic stop for a defective headlight in the area of East Cedar and Hill. Police said Moore ran from the vehicle after stopping, and they briefly lost sight of Moore when he ran into a wooded area. They found him a short time later hiding in some bushes near the intersection of East Cedar and Jackson. Police said Moore sustained several cuts and scrapes to his face and arms and began vomiting after he was taken into custody. He was transported by ambulance to Medical Center of South Arkansas for treatment. Officers noted there was a passenger in Moore's vehicle, and the vehicle was gone when they returned to the area where Moore had initially stopped. • Leopoldo Apadaca, was arrested April 22 for second-degree battery, DWI, driving on a suspended license and no insurance. Officers were called to La Villa, 2640 N. West Ave., in reference to a single-vehicle accident that occurred across the street from the restaurant and the driver running inside the business. Police said when they arrived, Apadaca was bleeding from the mouth and speaking unintelligibly. He told police that his mouth struck the steering wheel when he wrecked his vehicle and admitted that he was under the influence of narcotics. Officers said Apadaca was also behaving erratically, and at one point, he began "crouch-walking" through the restaurant, while saying that he was "afraid of the voices in my head." He later told officers "he found a bag of dope and ate it." Police said that as they attempted to take him into custody, Apadaca stiffened his body, began yelling, slid from a booth and lay on the floor. During a search incident to arrest outside the restaurant, police said Apadaca again resisted and kicked an officer in the chin. Officers were able to restrain Apadaca and take him into custody. While transporting Apadaca to the Union County Jail, police said he kicked and slammed his body against the cage and doors of the patrol unit. Officers said they pulled over and placed Apadaca in four-point restraints.
• Rachel W. Dolden, 34, 105 Kimberly Circle, was arrested April 21 for
possession of methamphetamine for possession of
City Reports
• On April 27, police received an information report about a suspicious person at Chapel Ridge Apartments, 301 Moorewood Road. The property manager told officers two tenants reported encounters with a man at the complex. One tenant said a "young man" that a man rang her doorbell on April 23 and asked to use her phone. The woman said she handed him her cellphone, and he began complaining that something was biting him. The woman said she briefly looked away and when she looked back at the man, he had exposed himself. She said he insisted on using her phone when she told him to leave. He left when she demanded that he leave and "pointed the way out." Another tenant reported on April 27 that a man in a dark colored hoodie began walking toward her as she left her residence at 3:45 a.m. She said she turned toward her vehicle, and he followed her. She said she then reached inside her purse to retrieve her cellphone, and the man turned and walked between apartment buildings.
• A Monroe, Louisiana, woman reported on April 26 that someone broke into her vehicle at Murphy USA, 200 Peach, and stole a handgun and $36 change.
• A woman reported on April 26 a burglary at her residence in the 3100 block of East Main. She said $700 cash and several necklaces and pendants were stolen. Police said the padlock on the front gate had been cut, several articles of clothing were strewn about the front yard and a window in the front door was shattered. A suspect has been identified, according to a police report.
• A man told officers on April 26 that someone broke into his residence in the 1500 block of North Calion Road and stole a microwave and San Francisco 49ers plate.
• A woman told police on April 26 that someone broke into her vehicle at her residence in the 700 block of West Block and stole $60 cash, temporary checks from People's Bank and two Social Security cards.
• Police responded on April 25 to a report of a breaking or entering on the parking lot of El Dorado High School, 2000 Wildcat Drive. Police said the vehicle belonged to a student, who said he left the doors unlocked. No items were reported missing from the vehicle. Police said the incident was captured on surveillance video, and several suspects have been identified.
• A man reported on April 24 the theft of a Yeti cooler with five containers of beer from the bed of his pickup truck in the 700 block of East Hillsboro.
• On April 24, a woman told police that someone broke into her vehicle at her residence in the 800 block of West Oak and stole and knife and the vehicle owner's manual.
• An employee of Chicken Express, 2209 N. West Ave., told police on April 22 that a man had been asking for money from customers in the drive-through line. She said that when an elderly couple did not acknowledge him, he struck the window of their vehicle and attempted to open the door. She said the man complied with her request to leave, noting that he "regularly" harasses customers and exhibits similar behavior at other businesses in the area. Police said they spoke with the man, who denied the allegations. He was released pending further investigation, officers said.
• On April 23, a woman reported ongoing mischief and vandalism to her vehicle at her residence in the 500 block of Beverly Drive. She said her tires have been deflated and the lug nuts removed, and oil thinner and paint have been poured and smeared onto her vehicle. A possible suspect has been identified. Police said paint was chipped from the hood and several places on the passenger side of the vehicle.
• A man told police on April 23 that someone fraudulently used his identity to apply for a loan in the amount of $16,056 in August 2017. He said someone attempted to apply for another loan in the amount of $60,000 last December. He provided possible suspect information.
• A man told police on April 20 that someone stole two shotguns from his truck at his residence in the 2300 block of Oxford.
• Police responded on April 22 to a report of a residential burglary in the 1500 block of North Mosby. A sword, video game system and several video games were reported stolen. Police spoke with a 17-year-old boy who was identified as a suspect by the complainants. According to a police report, the boy led officers to an abandoned house in the 1300 block of North Miles, where they recovered some of the stolen property. The boy denied committing the burglary, and he named another possible suspect.
• A woman told police on April 21 that someone broke into her boyfriend's vehicle in the 800 block of West Oak and stole $60 cash, a drill, wrench set, Bluetooth radio adapter and an interlock device.
• On April 21, a woman told police that someone broke into her vehicle at her residence in the 700 block of West Block and stole $20 cash. She noted that her debit card was inside the vehicle, and the suspect(s) also fraudulently used her debit card number to charge $200 to her bank account.