Local man assaulted while attempting to stop burglary
A Hot Springs man was arrested early Wednesday after allegedly attacking another man who tried to stop him from burglarizing a residence.
Noah Michael Cowger, 19, who lists a Civic Street address, was taken into custody shortly after 7:30 a.m. and charged with a felony count of residential burglary, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and misdemeanor counts of theft of property and third-degree battery, each punishable by up to one year in jail. He remained in custody Thursday in lieu of $7,000 bond and is set to appear Oct. 4 in Garland County District Court.
According to the affidavit, a Hot Springs police officer responded to the 600 block of Spring Street and made contact with a witness who had blood on both of his arms. The witness said that he heard glass breaking at around 7:25 a.m. at his residence on Palm Street and went to his window to investigate the source of the noise.
He saw a white male, later identified as Cowger, running from his neighbor’s residence carrying a duffle bag containing a television and a guitar. The witness exited his residence and yelled at Cowger, “What are you doing? That’s not your stuff.” He then confronted Cowger and the two got into a fight. Cowger allegedly pushed the witness to the ground, took his cellphone and fled the scene after the witness attempted to call police.
The neighbor said he was asleep inside his residence when he heard yelling and screaming outside. He observed the witness and Cowger fighting. He exited his residence and saw his 32-inch television and 12-string acoustic guitar were on the sidewalk. He said Cowger fled the scene after seeing him.
During a walk-through of his residence, the neighbor discovered the kitchen window screen had been cut and the south side basement door had been kicked in. Officers located Cowger and the witness reportedly identified him as the suspect involved in the burglary.