Weapons recovered following disturbance at local residence

Several firearms and numerous rounds of ammunition were discovered during a traffic stop Sunday night that followed a disturbance in the Washington Heights neighborhood.

The incident was reported about 9:30 p.m., by Mark Porter, 54, 412 Trenton Road, according to a report at the Forrest City Police Department.

Porter called police to report that Nathaniel Devontae Preston, 25, of Jonesboro, was at his residence “bothering” his 30year-old daughter.

According to the report, Porter told police he “ran” Preston away but he returned a short time later with four other individuals in a red Dodge Charger they parked down the street before walking to Porter’s home, allegedly armed with weapons. Three of the subjects walked to the rear of the residence while two stood at the front door, allegedly threatening to kill the family.

As police were responding to the 911 call, an officer spotted the Charger leaving the neighborhood, traveling north on Highway 1, and stopped the vehicle in the parking lot of a nearby fast food restaurant where they reportedly saw Preston, who was sitting in the back passenger seat, open the door and toss a Ruger LCP II with an extended magazine behind the back passenger tire of the vehicle.

Inside the vehicle, officers discovered a Glock 43X 9mm with a loaded extended magazine and a M&P Shield and magazine loaded with 9mm ammunition. Police reported none of the vehicle’s occupants would “own up” to the weapons.

Preston, along with Devoneon Tyryne Smith, 20; Devon Martarilervin Jackson, 22, and Malika Smith, 23, all of Blytheville, were arrested on charges of aggravated assault. The fifth suspect, Perious Nicole Walker, 23, of Blytheville, is charged with disorderly conduct. The five were taken to the St. Francis County Jail.

Police also learned that Preston had been released Sunday afternoon, just hours prior to the incident in Forrest City, from the Cross County Detention Center where he was arrested early Saturday morning for DWI along with possession of firearm by certain persons, possession of a controlled substance, tampering with physical evidence and open container.

Tamara Johnson • Times-Herald Forrest City Mayor Larry Bryant swears in new library board members Evelyn Smith, left, and Karen Hodges. The board welcomed the new members to their first meeting Monday afternoon. Smith and Hodges are replacing Judy Sweet and Briuana Green, who received plaques of appreciation from the board.