Teen charged with felony assault for alleged threats
A Mountain Pine teen was arrested Wednesday morning on a felony assault warrant stemming from allegations he threatened a Hot Springs woman at knife point in May.
Zachary Lynn Shurley, 19, of 307 Eighth St. in Mountain Pine, was taken into custody at his residence around 10:45 a.m. on a charge of aggravated assault, punishable by up to six years in prison.
Shurley, who lists no prior criminal history, remained in custody Thursday in lieu of a $2,500 bond and is set to appear today in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, a Hot Springs woman filed a complaint with Hot Springs police alleging that on May 15 she was assaulted with a knife by a known suspect, identified as Shurley.
She stated she had allowed Shurley to stay in her apartment with her after she met him while he was remodeling the building she lives in. She noted Shurley also helped her move her belongings into the apartment.
During the six-week period they were roommates, she said she noticed
Shurley “using drugs” and that he would get
“very violent at times.”
On May 13, she alleges Shurley attacked her during one of his violent outbursts. She said he pulled out an open-blade pocket knife and pressed it against her neck, two times under her chin and one time against her jugular vein.
She said as he did so he told her, “I’m going to kill you.”
On May 16, a male friend of the woman came to the police department with her. He told detectives he had befriended Shurley and then played a voicemail he reportedly received from him after the alleged assault.
In the voicemail, Shurley apologized to the man for threatening the victim. A warrant for Shurley’s arrest was subsequently issued on May 19.