Barricaded suspect captured

Police find man hiding in attic of empty house

SPRINGDALE — A man who evaded police capture Tuesday morning was later found hiding in an attic, police said.

Michael Simmons, 36, was arrested in connection with theft by receiving, felony possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal trespass, said Lt. Jeff Taylor with the Springdale Police Department.

Simmons was found in the attic of a home in the 800 block of Gwen Street after police returned for a second search, Taylor said.

Police initially were called to the house at 6:20 a.m. in reference to a suspicious vehicle. Police arrived shortly after and found a vehicle outside the house that was reported stolen in Fayetteville. A vehicle description wasn’t available, Taylor said.

Officers found an undisclosed item in the vehicle with Simmons’ name on it. A woman, Amy Estep, came out of the house and spoke with police. Estep told police she was with Simmons and he was in the house, in the attic.

Police blocked off the street and set up a perimeter around the house. SWAT and a police negotiator were called to contact with Simmons. Attempts to reach him were made by a loudspeaker, phone and through social media, but there was no response, Taylor said.

The SWAT team entered the house and searched but couldn’t find Simmons. Taylor described the house as vacant and owned by a bank.

NWA Democrat-Gazette/FLIP PUTTHOFF Springdale police cordon off the 800 block of Gwen Street on Tuesday. Police were investigating a suspicious vehicle outside of a vacant home on the block.