Deputies probe aggravated robbery

The Garland County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a robbery that allegedly took place early Friday morning between a man and a woman who arranged a meeting over social media.

The victim, a 29-year-old Hot Springs man, said the robbery occurred sometime between midnight Thursday and 3 a.m. Friday outside a residence on Quiet Water Point, between Lake Hamilton and Amity Road. He said he had been contacted by an unknown woman through Facebook who wanted to meet him.

He said he drove to the residence and a woman entered the passenger side of his vehicle. He said he noticed another woman lying in the grass nearby who appeared to be on a cellphone. He tried to back up his vehicle, but the woman in his car told him to stay for a bit. The woman who had been lying in the grass came to his window and gave him a cellphone to charge.

At that point, several unknown men emerged from the woods, pulled him out of the vehicle and began to kick him and punch him in the face. Sheriff’s Deputy Clayton Green, who responded to the incident, noted swelling to the victim’s left eye and abrasions to his face and arms.

He said one of the men held a knife to his throat and asked him if he wanted to live or die, and someone took his money and cellphone. He said one of the men taped his eyes with black duct tape and taped his hands behind his back. He said he had to roll over to some rocks to break his hands free.

The victim reportedly took off walking after breaking free and deputies were contacted by an unknown caller who stated they saw a suspicious person in the area.

The victim was transported by Life Net to CHI St. Vincent Hot Springs. Green took photographs of the victim and collected duct tape and socks found near the vehicle as evidence.

The suspects involved could be facing charges of aggravated robbery, a felony punishable by up to life in prison.