Alleged trespasser gets lost in Garvan Gardens

Authorities spent more than two hours searching for a Texas man who became lost while allegedly trespassing at Garvan Woodland Gardens early Sunday morning, citing him and his six companions with misdemeanors.

Samuel Ellison, 24, and his companions, Only McKnight, 28, Jennifer Shotts, 30, Ashley Upchurch, 26, Katherine Watkins, 25, Cameron Fussell, 26 and Emily Snyder, 27, all of Dallas, were all issued misdemeanor citations for criminal trespassing after Ellison was located.

According to a Garland County sheriff’s incident report, the group arrived at the boat dock at the botanical garden, 540 Arkridge Road, around 2 a.m., while it was closed.

They started walking around the grounds and Ellison, who was reportedly intoxicated, eventually got separated from the group and became disoriented. The others in the group were unable to locate him and eventually contacted authorities, fearing for their friend’s safety.

Sheriff’s deputies and a Hot Springs police officer responded to the call. It took five law enforcement officers roughly two and a half hours to locate Ellison. Deputy Robert Hotho said by that time Ellison was alert and did not appear to be intoxicated.

“Garvan Gardens is not a very good place to be wandering

around at night,” Hotho said.

“This is something that has been an ongoing problem. (The) main concern was that the suspect had possibly stepped off something and broke his neck,” he said.

The security director for Garvan Woodland Gardens, James Reese, told deputies he wished to pursue charges against the alleged trespassers. Citations were issued for all seven suspects, and they are due to appear in Garland County District Court early next month.