On November 16, 2021, Arkansas State Trooper Jed Bolyard and Logan County Sheriff's Office Deputy Jerry Wharton got behind a white Jeep Cherokee on Highway 10 near the city of Magazine that was reported stolen out of Fort Smith. When they activated their emergency lights, the driver of the Jeep failed to stop and took off at a high rate of speed. The trooper and deputy pursued the vehicle through Magazine and Blue Mountain into Yell County. The Jeep travelled at reckless speeds way over the speed limit and crossed the center line multiple times putting other drivers in danger. The trooper performed a PIT maneuver causing the Jeep to go off the highway into the ditch. There were four occupants in the Jeep and the driver, Johnathan Hawkins, 21, of Boles in Scott County, was arrested for the pursuit and for theft by receiving on the Jeep. A passenger was arrested on a warrant.

 

The day before the pursuit, Tyler Ford near Booneville was broken and two vehicles were stolen. One vehicle was found in the woods near the Booneville Human Development Center and the second vehicle was located near Breeden Dodge in Fort Smith. The manner of the break-in at Tyler Ford was similar to a break-in at Breeden Dodge where the white Jeep was stolen. Through an investigation by our office and the Fort Smith Police Department, it was determined that the driver of the Jeep, Johnathan Hawkins, was involved in both burglaries and the vehicle thefts. Several other people are being investigated as accomplices and more arrests are expected.

 

***

 

On November 12, 2021, a camper was reported stolen in the Mt. Magazine area on Robert Hill Road. On November 14th, the camper was located in Franklin County near Ozark and Amber Lattin, 28, of Paris, was arrested by Franklin County deputies on theft by receiving charges. She was interviewed at the Franklin County Detention Center by a Logan County Sheriff's Office investigator. The investigator also located the vehicle driven by Amber and he found items from the stolen camper in the vehicle. We are pursuing theft of property charges on Amber who remains in custody in the Franklin County Detention Center.