Teen in standoff with police arrested on multiple charges
What began as a domestic disturbance Saturday afternoon escalated into a standoff with Hot
Springs police that ended with the arrest of a local teen on felony and misdemeanor charges including prior warrants.
Andrew Joshua Brown, 19, of
313 Laser St., was taken into custody at his residence shortly before 4 p.m. and charged with felony counts of aggravated assault on a family or household member and theft by receiving, both punishable by up to six years in prison, and misdemeanor counts of third-degree domestic battery and second-degree criminal mischief.
Brown was being held on bonds totaling $9,250 and was set to appear Monday in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit on the aggravated assault charge, shortly before 1:30 p.m. Saturday, police responded to the Laser Street residence regarding a domestic disturbance with a firearm and upon arrival learned that Brown was inside the residence with a gun and not allowing his girlfriend to leave.
After communicating with Brown for a length of time, he released his girlfriend and his mother from inside the residence.
Police learned Brown had been arguing with his girlfriend when he allegedly pulled out a gun, pointed it at her and stated he would kill her. Then he barricaded himself in a room with her by moving furniture in front of the door. At one point, he reportedly pointed the gun at his own head and threatened to commit suicide.
The police department’s S.W.A.T. unit was activated and set up a perimeter around the house as other officers continued to negotiate with Brown. Shortly before 4 p.m., the S.W.A.T. members deployed tear gas into the residence which eventually caused Brown to come out and he was taken into custody without further incident.
According to the affidavits on the battery and criminal mischief charges, on April 15, shortly after 7:30 p.m., officers responded to Brown’s girlfriend’s residence regarding a battery and spoke to Brown’s girlfriend and two female witnesses at the scene.
They all stated that around 6 p.m. Brown, described as the victim’s on-again, off-again boyfriend, came to the door and was upset with her for changing his Facebook password. The victim let him inside and he followed her into the home’s office area where he allegedly became “verbally and physically aggressive.”
He allegedly punched her in the head multiple times and grabbed her violently, causing an estimated $200 damage to a nearby wall. The victim sustained swelling to her head and had lacerations on her wrists and arms from the encounter, but declined to be transported by LifeNet.
Security cameras in the office reportedly recorded the incident and the affidavit notes “it was obvious Brown was the primary aggressor” and that one of the witnesses was seen trying to help the victim “to no avail.”
Warrants for domestic battery and criminal mischief were later issued for Brown.
According to the affidavit on the felony theft charge, on May 25, a white 2015 Chevrolet Impala, valued at $14,925 was reported stolen from the Regions Bank parking deck, 835 Central. On June 2, police Cpl. Eric Roberson located the Impala abandoned with a flat tire at Bayberry and Maylott streets.
On June 3, Detective Les Jessup met with the Impala’s owner at BP Towing, 430 Valley St., and processed the vehicle’s interior for latent prints. He lifted several from the radio/GPS touch screen and the gear shift which were sent to the state crime lab.
On June 24, the lab returned a report matching the prints to Brown and a warrant was later issued.