LR man charged with two burglaries

A Little Rock man previously arrested for burglarizing a Hot Springs liquor store in December was arrested again Tuesday while appearing in Garland County District Court for a second burglary allegedly committed the same day.

Darold Allan Cross, 45, appeared Tuesday to plead not guilty to a felony charge of commercial burglary, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and misdemeanor counts of first-degree criminal mischief and theft of property stemming from the Dec. 19 burglary of the 19th Hole Wine & Spirits, 2230 Malvern Ave.

While in court, he was served with warrants for identical charges regarding the burglary of Sonic Drive-In,

1510 Albert Pike Road, that also allegedly occurred on Dec. 19. Cross was later released on

$5,500 bond and is set to appear March 6 in district court on the new charges.

According to the probable cause affidavit, on Dec. 19, the manager for Sonic reported a burglary to the restaurant and provided video surveillance of two suspects breaking a glass door and entering the business.

The suspects reportedly stole $3 in coins from the register and fled. The manager estimated it would cost $350 to repair the damage.

The next day, Hot Springs police Detective Nathan Rines was contacted by Benton police Detective Chris Benham in reference to the arrest of two suspects involved in numerous burglaries in Saline County on Dec. 19.

Benham reportedly described the clothing of the suspects and stated he believed the suspects were involved in similar activity in Hot Springs after interviewing them. The detective reportedly said the suspects admitted they had broken into businesses in Hot Springs prior to the burglaries in Benton.

The detectives determined the video surveillance from Saline County showed Cross and another suspect wearing the same clothing as the suspects in the video from the Sonic burglary.