Level four sex offender arrested after confrontation with Hot Springs police
A homeless man classified as a violent sexual predator being sought on felony warrants for allegedly failing to register and attacking his roommate was arrested Thursday after a confrontation with Hot Springs police.
Gary Wayne Bragg, 50, was taken into custody shortly before 6 p.m. on warrants for failure to comply with sex offender reporting requirements, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and second-degree battery, punishable by up to six years, and was also charged with possession of a controlled substance, hydrocodone, punishable by up to 10 years.
Bragg, who also had four felony warrants for failure to appear, was being held on a zero bond and was set to appear Friday in Garland County District Court.
According to the affidavit on his arrest Thursday, police made a traffic stop on a blue Toyota Highlander in the 200 block of Laser Street and upon approaching the car officers saw Bragg, who was known to have multiple warrants, sitting in the passenger seat.
Bragg was asked several times to step out of the vehicle but report- edly refused. At one point, Bragg allegedly slid over into the driver’s seat, forcing the driver out of the vehicle, and attempted to flee.
Detective Brian Branstetter deployed his Taser, causing “temporary muscular incapacitation” until Bragg broke one of the wires and again attempted to flee in the vehicle.
At that point, a police K-9 entered the vehicle, causing Bragg to move back to the passenger seat where he finally submitted to arrest outside the vehicle.
While taking Bragg into custody, at his request, officers located nine hydrocodone pills on his person, about 3.8 grams total.
According to the affidavit on the failure to comply charge, on April 29, Bragg, a Level 4 registered sex offender, which is classified as being a violent sexual predator and is the highest classification for sex offenders, came to the police department to verify his necessary information.
Bragg completed the verification process and agreed to return no later than May 20 to again verify his information. Since Bragg registers as homeless, he is required to update his information every 30 days.
As of June 3, which is 10 days past the required date, Bragg had not returned to verify his information so a warrant was issued for his arrest.
According to the battery charge affidavit, on Sept. 13, around 2:30 p.m., a local man reported that his roommate, identified as Bragg, who had been living with him for three months, attacked him.
He said he had told Bragg he needed to start helping pay rent. Bragg became upset and reportedly stated, “I’m not paying you nothing.” The man told Bragg if he wasn’t willing to help pay
rent he needed to leave.
Bragg reportedly replied, “(Expletive) you, I’m not leaving.” When the man threatened to call police, Bragg told him, “You have (expletive) up” and began punching the man multiple times in the face.
He then picked the man up, slammed him to the floor and got on top of him, the victim states, while continuing to punch him in the face.
At one point, Bragg allegedly grabbed a metal link chain and attempted to choke the man with it, who was able to block his neck with his arms. Another roommate came in and told Bragg to stop and then Bragg fled in an unknown direction.
The victim told police he sustained injuries to his mouth and neck during the altercation. A warrant for Bragg’s arrest on the battery charge was issued on Sept. 27.