An El Dorado woman who was arrested in late December for allegedly assaulting her 11-year-old daughter was back in court last week on a felony charge of witness tampering.
A first appearance hearing for Jessica A. Hagood, 26, of 613 Liberty, was held Jan. 13 in 35th Judicial District Court on charges of tampering and violation of a no-contact order.
Hagood was already in custody for second-degree domestic battery when the arrest warrant for tampering was issued Jan. 13.
On Dec. 30, police responded at approximately 3:30 p.m. to an initial report of a fight at Hagood’s residence.
Hagood’s daughter told officers that Hagood accused her of stealing money, yelled at her and slapped her.
The girl said that when she shoved her mother away in self-defense, Hagood punched her several times before throwing her to the ground, where she continued to punch her in the head.
The girl said she got away from her mother and ran inside the residence to her grandfather, who intervened and stopped the attack.
Witnesses provided a similar account of the incident.
A neighbor reported hearing someone yelling outside and then seeing Hagood slap the girl, throw her to the ground and punch her in the face multiple times.
Another witness told police that she also heard a commotion and when she came outside her residence, Hagood was “on top of (the girl), striking her in the face.”
The girl had a scratch on her neck, police said.
The girl was released into the custody of her grandfather and police said they notified the Arkansas State Police about the incident, as required by state law.
Hagood was arrested for second-degree domestic battery and scheduled for a first appearance Dec. 31 in district court.
A witness told police Jan. 1 that Hagood sent several messages to her phone and made statements indicating that the witness should change her account of the incident to police.
Police reviewed the messages and subsequently issued an arrest warrant for tampering and violation of a no-contact order that was issued Dec. 31 during Hagood’s first appearance in district court.
Another El Dorado woman is being held in the Union County jail following an arrest last week for allegedly destroying an ATM at First Financial Bank, 500 S. Timberlane, in December.
April A. Thigpen, 40, 1023 K Ave., was arrested Jan. 11 on a felony charge of first-degree criminal mischief.
On Jan. 4, officers were called FFB in reference to property damage.
An FFB security officer told police that Thigpen arrived at the bank on foot Dec. 1 and used the ATM.
Thigpen’s debit card became stuck in the ATM and she returned to the machine multiple times to try and free the card, the security officer said.
He said Thigpen appeared to go “into a fit of rage”, during which she opened the enclosure for the ATM’s surveillance camera, pulled out the camera lens and cables and threw the lens on the ground before leaving the area.
The complainant said the incident caused $1,250 worth of damage, adding that Thigpen returned to the bank three days later to retrieve her debit card from the FFB office manager.
While on routine patrol Jan. 11, an El Dorado police officer reported hearing a “loud commotion” in the area of West Hillsboro and Newton Avenue.
The officer said the sound seemed to come from West First Street and when she headed toward the area, she saw a woman “yelling and cussing” outside a residence.
Upon making contact with the woman, later identified as Thigpen, the officer said Thigpen yelled, “Get off my private property!” through a fence.
The officer said she learned of an active warrant for Thigpen’s arrest and when she asked Thigpen to open the gate so she could talk to Thigpen, Thigpen continued shouting at her.
Police said Thigpen then barricaded herself inside the residence and did did not comply with commands to exit the residence until they called an acquaintance of hers, who was able to calm her down and coax her outside.
Thigpen made her first appearance in district court the same day as her arrest. Her bond was set at $30,000 and she was banned from First Financial Bank.
She is being held in the Union County jail in lieu of bond.