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FBI Offering $10,000 Reward for Help Catching Escaped Murderer

CALICO ROCK, Ark. — Search efforts continued Thursday for the escaped murderer and rapist Grant Hardin. A $10,000 reward is being offered by the FBI for information leading to the arrest of Grant Matthew Harden, convicted of homicide and rape, and now charged with second-degree escape from the North Central Unit in Calico Rock. Hardin escaped from the Calico Rock Prison on May 25. The FBI noted…

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Man Arrested After Jonesboro Traffic Stop Leads to 140 Grams of Suspected Meth

Officers arrested a man with around 140 grams of suspected methamphetamine during a traffic stop this week in Jonesboro. While on patrol on May 27, Officer D. Thomas with the Jonesboro Police Department noticed a gray Chevrolet Impala near the intersection of Main and Johnson that showed unconfirmed insurance when checked through ATLAS. A traffic stop was conducted, but the officer reported the…

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$5,000 Bond Set for Trumann Woman Accused of Stealing Nearly $1 Million from Business

JONESBORO, Ark. — A Trumann woman is accused of stealing close to $1 million from a Jonesboro business. The probable cause affidavit says that on May 12, 2025, the owner of Valley View Agri contacted the Craighead County Sheriff’s Department about a large amount of money allegedly stolen from his business by a former employee. Documentation was supplied showing Jennifer Latham had stolen close to…

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Suspect Returns to Jonesboro for 2018 Newspaper Delivery Robbery Case

JONESBORO, Ark. — A suspect who has been implicated in several crimes across the Mid-South was recently brought back to Jonesboro to face charges stemming from a 2018 robbery of a newspaper delivery driver. Diarrius Cartell Carter, 26, of West Memphis, appeared before Judge Barbara Halsey on Tuesday, May 27, 2025, for his bond hearing. Bail was set at $100,000 cash or surety. His next court…

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Man Accused of Violating Protection Order, Assaulting Ex-Girlfriend in Jonesboro

JONESBORO, Ark. — A man is accused of violating a protection order, attacking his ex-girlfriend, and threatening to kill her earlier this month in Jonesboro. The probable cause affidavit states that on May 5, the alleged victim came to JPD to file a report. She said that day, her ex-boyfriend, Christopher Ball, assaulted her. At about 8:15 PM, the victim said she was at a business on North Church…

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Jonesboro Man Accused of Sexually Grooming Child

JONESBORO, Ark. — A Jonesboro man is accused of sexually grooming a child, a Class D felony, in a case involving a 13-year-old relative. The probable cause affidavit says that on May 21, a juvenile victim was forensicly interviewed regarding a family member communicating with them in a sexual manner. The family member accused was Kevyn Bowen. The affidavit states that the victim disclosed they…

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Chrestman Launches Campaign for Circuit Judge in Second Judicial District

JONESBORO, Ark. — Keith Chrestman has formally announced his candidacy for Circuit Judge in Division 11 of the Second Judicial District of Arkansas. Chrestman is a seasoned attorney and respected former prosecutor and judge with nearly 30 years of legal experience and a deep-rooted commitment to justice and public service. Born and raised in West Memphis and now residing in Craighead County with…

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Sex Offender Accused of Failure to Comply with Reporting Requirements in Craighead County

JONESBORO, Ark. — A registered sex offender now faces a Class C felony for allegedly failing to comply with reporting requirements in Craighead County. On May 12, Sgt. Smyth, with the Craighead County Sheriff’s Office, requested that Jeremiah Selfridge come to his office for a six-month verification check on the Arkansas sex offender registry. The probable cause affidavit says Selfridge stated no…

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Jonesboro Man Suspected of Drunk Driving After Crashing into Home

JONESBORO, Ark. — A man is facing several charges, including a felony, after police say he was driving while intoxicated and wrecked into a house in Jonesboro. Matthew Kyle Huckaby, 45, of Jonesboro, was arrested early May 22 on charges including second-degree criminal mischief, a felony; DWI, refusal to submit, and reckless driving, misdemeanors; and running a stop sign, an unclassified…

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Windgate Foundation Grants $9.49 Million in Support of Arkansas State University

JONESBORO – Windgate Foundation has awarded new grants totaling $9.49 million directed for scholarships, arts education initiatives and community outreach at Arkansas State University, announced Chancellor Todd Shields. The award comes on the heels of major gifts over the past nine years from Windgate, which has set institutional records for its generosity to support educational advancement at…

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Jonesboro Father Faces Felony Charge After Infant Suffers Severe Brain Injury

JONESBORO, Ark. — A Jonesboro father is facing a felony battery charge after police say a two-month-old baby in his care was severely injured. On May 16, the Arkansas Crimes Against Children Division was notified of a two-month-old baby who had been flown to Little Rock with a brain bleed. CACD investigators from Little Rock responded to the hospital, making contact with the doctors and the…

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Jonesboro Woman Accused of Abusing Toddler, Caught on Home Surveillance Video

JONESBORO, Ark. — A mother is facing numerous felony charges after a probable cause affidavit alleged she was caught on camera. Kyla Maelyn Bates, 25, of Jonesboro, faces three counts of second-degree domestic battery, a Class C felony, and three counts of second-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, a Class A misdemeanor. Judge Tommy Fowler set bail at $150,000 cash or surety on Wednesday.…

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Judge Denies Recusal Request; Prosecutor Files Motion to Reconsider

JONESBORO, Ark. — Circuit Judge Doug Brimhall has denied a request by District Prosecutor Sonia F. Hagood to recuse from cases involving the prosecutor’s office, but Hagood isn’t backing down. In response to the request filed on January 14, 2025, Judge Brimhall entered his order denying the motion on April 28. Brimhall addresses the state’s request to recuse from “any and all cases” involving the…

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Two Face Potential Life Sentences for Allegedly Dealing Fentanyl-Laced Meth

JONESBORO, Ark. — Two defendants appeared in court for bond hearings on Monday, both accused of possession of fentanyl with the purpose to deliver and other charges after a traffic stop Saturday in Craighead County. Justin Dewayne Beshiers, 48, of Jonesboro, and Miranda Yeavon Sims-Beiter, 31, of Brookland, were both arrested for possession of fentanyl with the purpose to deliver, a Class Y…

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$900,000 Settlement Reached in Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Jail Nursing Provider

City, Officer Still Face Legal Claim JONESBORO, Ark. — A settlement has been reached with some of the parties in the wrongful death lawsuit brought by the estate of a man who died in police custody last year in Jonesboro. In the matter of the estate of Brock Tyner, who died in custody last year, a petition to approve a settlement was filed late May 18, 2025. The petition states the parties have…

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Man Accused of Driving Car During Shooting That Targeted Woman in Jonesboro

JONESBORO, Ark. — A man is accused of being the driver for another person who allegedly fired gunshots at his ex-girlfriend during a May 7 shooting in Jonesboro. At about 7:43 p.m. on May 7, 2025, JPD responded to a call of shots fired near Latourette Lane and Medallion Circle. Officers were advised that residents in the area had reported a silver car and a black car, both driving down…

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Bay Man Arrested on Felony Charges After Parole Compliance Check

BAY, Ark. — A Bay man is facing a Class Y felony, in addition to other charges, after a parole compliance search earlier this week. On May 14, agents with Probation and Parole conducted a parole compliance check at the 200 block of Ritterman in Bay, according to the probable cause affidavit. The subject of the search was Harley Lockheart Russell, 23, of Bay. While searching the residence, agents…