Malvern man arrested in Dallas county, faces additional charges
A Hot Spring County man arrested by police in Dallas County is also facing charges in Hot Spring County in connection with a child abuse case.
According to the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, at approximately 2 p.m. Wednesday, deputies received a report of a single vehicle accident on Hwy. 9 near Princeton. The driver of the vehicle, who was later identified as John Caleb Ross, of Malvern, had allegedly fled from the scene carrying bags.
Officers with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission responded to the scene and located Ross with the help of a K9, according to the sheriff’s office.
Ross is facing charges of leaving the scene of an accident, driving on a suspended license, fleeing on foot, possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and being named in an active Arkansas Board of Parole warrant.
Hot Spring County Sheriff Mike Cash said that Ross is also facing charges in Hot Spring County.
According to court documents filed this week, Ross is facing charges of battery and endangering the welfare of a minor.
Ross “did knowingly cause serious physical injury to any person 4 years of age or younger under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to the value of human life” and “did purposely engage in conduct creating an substantial risk of death or serious physical injury to a minor,” Prosecuting Attorney Teresa Howell wrote in the court documents.
In December of 2020, the Hot Spring County Sheriff’s Office received a report
from Arkansas State Police of a child abuse incident.
Deputies learned that a 1-year-old child had allegedly sustained serious injuries. The person reporting the abuse “claimed the injuries were inflicted on (the child) by John Caleb Ross,” according to a Hot Spring County arrest affidavit.
ASP told deputies that two children “were found to test positive for the presence of methamphetamine in conjunction with this incident,” according to the affidavit.
The person reporting the crime told police that because of his drug usage, Ross rarely slept and allegedly became increasingly aggressive toward her and her children.
Ross reportedly spoke with police about the incident in December of 2020. “Ross denied any abuse on his part directed toward the children,” according to the affidavit.
Ross has not yet appeared in court for an arraignment for these charges, according to the Hot Spring County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office.
It is noted in court documents that Ross has previously been convicted of two counts of residential burglary, two counts of theft of property, delivery of methamphetamine or cocaine and unauthorized use of another person’s property to facilitate a crime.