A Benton man is in the Clark County Jail today after allegedly robbing an Arkadelphia man of his ATM card, driver’s license and student ID card.
According to a report on file at the Arkadelphia Police Department, police received a 911 call Sunday at 1:44 a.m. after a man in a witch costume was apparently robbed by three men in a black sedan.
The complainant, who resides at Henderson State’s Newberry Hall, said he was walking to Exxon-Tiger Mart on North 10th Street; but just as he was about to cross Henderson Street, three black males pulled up next to him, and the driver called him over to the vehicle. Though the victim did not know the men, he complied.
The driver of the vehicle demanded all the money in his pockets. The victim said he did not have any money in his pockets — only his debit card and other identification cards. The driver demanded all the cards and the PIN to the debit card. As the victim hesitated, a second man in the vehicle leaned over and became more aggressive, and said, “Are you (expletive) serious?”
The report indicates the man felt threatened, so he handed over all the items as the suspects fled north on 10th Street. He then called 911 and gave a description of the vehicle and a license plate number.
Caddo Valley police located and stopped the vehicle at Phillips 66 on Valley Street.
The driver of the vehicle, 22-year-old Mitchell Davis, of Benton, was asked to exit the vehicle and, upon doing so, the three stolen cards fell out of his pants, according to the report. He was arrested and charged with robbery. He remains in jail.
The other two passengers were also asked to exit the vehicle. Twenty-two-year-old Dennis Dunkentell, of Hot Springs, was asked if he had anything illegal on his person, to which he replied that he had some marijuana wrapped in a $10 bill in his pocket. Police found the marijuana, along with more small pieces of marijuana in the back of the car where Dunkentell was sitting. He was arrested and charged with possession of a controlled substance. He has since been released.
Twenty-two-year-old Ray Hill, of Hot Springs, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, was initially placed in handcuffs, but was later released with no charges.
Assisting in the arrests were Caddo Valley officer Robert Ferguson, sheriff’s deputy Justin Kirksey and APD officer John Thomason.
Also found in the car was a damp cigarette wrapped in foil and a cough syrup bottle with its prescription label peeled off. Sgt. Roy Bethell, criminal investigator for APD, said Monday that the liquid could be formaldehyde or promethazine, a prescription cough syrup which is known to be an abused depressant. Bethell said the cigarette was most likely dipped in the liquid and was placed in the foil to dry before being smoked. The bottle will be sent to the state crime lab to determine its contents.
Davis’s charges of robbery will be determined by County Prosecutor Blake Batson. Pending the crime lab results of the bottle’s contents, he may also be charged with possession of a controlled substance, Bethell said.
Bethell said the men were in Arkadelphia to attend a Halloween party.