Probationer allegedly tells police he stole car to go ‘see his girlfriend’
A local man recently placed on probation was arrested early Saturday after he was allegedly caught driving a stolen car, reportedly telling Hot Springs police he took the car so he could “see his girlfriend.”
Daniel Edward Kendrick III, 29, who lists a Maverick Place address, was taken into custody shortly after 12: 30 a. m. in the parking lot of the Dodge Store, 640 E. Grand Ave., and charged with theft of property over $1,000, punishable by up to six years in prison.
Kendrick had pleaded guilty Sept. 28, less than a week earlier, in Garland County Circuit Court to felony counts of breaking or entering and possession of a controlled substance, meth, and was sentenced to five years’ probation on each count, to run concurrently, fined $1,000 and ordered to pay $ 565 in court costs.
According to the probable cause affidavit on his arrest Saturday, Officer William Stockwell was patrolling when he spotted a white 1989 Mercury Marquis pulling into the parking lot of the Dodge Store and noted it matched the description of one reported stolen earlier in his shift.
He checked the license plate, confirmed it was the one reported stolen, and made contact with the driver, identified as Kendrick, ordering him out of the car and taking him into custody without incident.
While Kendrick was being transported to the detention center, he allegedly made several spontaneous comments, saying he took the car “so he could see his girlfriend” and that he “was about to go back to prison.” The affidavit notes the average price for a 1989 Mercury Marquis was listed at $1,850.