Monticello Live

According to Lincoln County Sheriff Larry McGee, Tuesday evening, Lincoln County Deputy Hudson received a call reporting a reckless driver on HWY 425, north of Star City.  The caller gave a complete description of the vehicle, and it’s license plate number.

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Melvin LaRon James was sentenced by a Drew County Circuit Court jury Friday to serve 24 years for the robbery of EZ Mart, on the corner of Gaines and Hyatt Street, April 20. (more…)

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Around 7 o’clock, Saturday morning, Monticello Police received a phone call reporting a break-in at Western Sizzlin’ restaurant.

This was the 2nd burglary at the restaurant this week, after the one discovered Monday morning.

Monticello Police are investigating the crime, and encourage anyone who may have seen a suspicious vehicle or person to call them at 367-

Vandalism has taken place in our local Monticello parks again over recent weeks, as shown by the photos above.

The top left shows (inside of the circles) where a loud speaker was taken from the ball field at Jordan Park. City workers discovered the speaker missing Monday morning when they arrived at work.

The top center pic shows where the “men” and “women” signs were removed from the new restrooms at McCloy Park, last week.

The bottom row of photos show where the pavilion at Lake Monticello’s table were “re-arranged” with litter scattered around the receptacles on both ends of the lake earlier this month.

Between the closing times of Western Sizzlin’ and Pizza Hut and when employees arrived at work Monday morning vandals forcefully entered both local restaurants in apparent efforts to get money.

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Around 5:30, Friday morning, a Drew County Sheriff’s deputy and SEEMS ambulance responded to a home on HWY 83 North, in response to the report of a man accidentally shooting himself in the shoulder with a rifle.

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Robert Jackson, of North Bailey St., was arrested by Monticello Police, Thursday evening around 10 pm, and charged with DWI 5, driving with a suspended license, and fleeing.

Jackson was seen by a police officer, whom he refused to stop for, until he’d made several turns, and driven across a yard to get to his residence, as he allegedly made several turns without a signal and ignored a couple of stop signs.

Judge Bynum Gibson set Jackson’s bond at $20,000

According to reports, at 10:39, Sunday night, Monticello Police Dispatch received a 911 call from the Sonic drive-in, reporting an armed robbery where the manager and an employee were confronted by an unidentified black male, wearing a black hoodie and other dark clothing, carrying a gun.

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Ramien Collins was on trial, Wednesday, on 2nd degree battery charges, for the alleged beating of Mario Gilbert on October 8, after Gilbert had entered Collins’ parents home with a “sawed off shotgun”, forcing 3 men outside the residence to go into the Florence Road home with him.    (more…)

According to Bill Sadler, public information officer for the Arkansas State Police, Chicot County Sheriffs Deputies, Dermott Police and Special Agents of the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division are investigating an incident reported yesterday (Sunday, April 17th 2011) that resulted in the death of two children and the injury of their mother.

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Monticello Police Department patrolman Kenny Cox was recognized Thursday by the Monticello Lions Club as the “Officer of the Year” for the second consecutive year.

Cox, a native of Dumas, was raised in law enforcement, and has served five years as an officer.  He began his career in Crossett, and has served the past three years as an MPD patrolman.

Police Chief Robert Rosegrant and Lt. Carlos Garcia presented the award to Cox, and explained the criteria for earning the award is based on a point system.  Points are awarded for DWI, drug, and felony arrest, and also take into account the number of accident and incident reports done.   “Going above and beyond the call of duty” is also taken into consideration.

Rosegrant and Garcia both thanked the members of the Lions Club for their continued support of the Monticello Police Department and its officers.

A candlelight vigil was held Wednesday night at UAM’s Weevil Pond for Katlin Lidge.  Katlin was a member of the Kappa Eta chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. fraternity, and was planning to graduate in May.

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Peter Harvey is shown leaving the Drew County Courthouse after an earlier hearing for the Crossett Capitol Murder of Donna Woodberry, and the armed robbery of a First National Bank branch..

According to AshleyCountyLedger.com, 10th Judicial District Circuit Judge Sam Pope sentenced a Louisiana man to the maximum sentence for six felony counts in connection with the July 1, 2010, kidnaping and murder of Donna Woodberry and subsequent armed robbery of the North Crossett branch of First National Bank of Crossett in Ashley County Circuit Court Thursday afternoon.

For the full story, see AshleyCountyLedger.com

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In Drew County Circuit Court last week, a former Monticello Elementary teacher accepted a guilty plea on the list of charges against her, as well as having her probation revoked on some of the earlier charges.

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According to Sheriff Mark Gober, on Friday, February 18th, the Drew County Sheriff’s Department conducted a search warrant at 430 East Oakland Street located at the corner of East Oakland and Conley Street. Members of Monticello Police Department assisted in the search of the residence. When officers arrived, there were two suspects standing in the driveway and another two sitting in a car under the carport.

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Drug Task Force agents and Monticello Police arrested two Fordyce men on felony drug charges according to Lt. Jason Akers.

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In Drew County Circuit Court, last week, a 51 year old Monticello area man pled guilty to multiple charges of “2nd degree sexual assault” against 3 female victims, under the age of 14.

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The Arkansas Supreme Court on December 16 issued two opinions denying Kenneth Isom’s post-conviction appeals. Isom was convicted in 2001 in the Drew County Circuit Court of the capital murder of Bill Burton and of the rape and attempted murder of an elderly relative of Burton who was staying with him while he recuperated from surgery. He was also convicted of aggravated robbery and residential burglary. Isom was sentenced to death on the murder and to life plus 100 years on the other charges. (more…)

It seems to have been an interesting week at the Monticello Parole & Probation Office, with arrests being made of “clients” on both Thursday and Friday. (more…)

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Tuesday, a Nissan 4-wheel drive pick-up, which was reported as being stolen back in 2004, was pulled out of the Old HWY 13, Plantersville Road Access end of Lake Monticello.

With the recent lack of rain, the water level in Lake Monticello is much lower than usual, and allowed the top of the truck to be seen by someone fishing from their boat.

The truck was located in water estimated to be  9 feet deep, approximately 50 from the boat ramp.

The ongoing investigation is being done by the Drew County Sheriff’s Dept.  The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission and the Fire Dept. Dive Team assisted Triple A Towing in the recovery of the Nissan from the lake.

Eric Chisom and Kyle Berryman of the Fire Dept. are shown in the lake, as the truck is being towed out.

The photo was provided by monticellobigbass.com.

A jury of 6 men and 6 women took approximately 30 minutes to find Col. Robert Avery not guilty of the charge of sexual assault of a former student of the Warren ROTC program director.

The alleged victim had reported 3 different dates during late October 2009, as being the date the single act took place, included homecoming Friday, Halloween, and the date that she testified to in court.

She also admitted, on the witness stand,  that she had lied to Arkansas State Police investigators about prior sexual activity.

Although her “skin DNA” was found on a couch cushion, where the alleged intercourse took place, there was no other form of DNA present there.  This seemed important, due to the 17 year old’s testimony that the act lasted “around an hour” and based on her “cycle”.

In summary, the jury did not believe that Avery had sex with the former student, who was a part of the ROTC program he supervised at Warren High School.

Robert Gibson and Cliff Gibson represented Avery, all of whom were pleased with the jury’s decision.

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Monticello Firefighters Spent 6 hours Battling "Old Bradley Mill" Fire in Warren, Saturday Night. Photo by David Forrest, of the Guesthouse.

On a day when emergency personnel are recognized across the nation, our local fire dept, police officers, sheriff’s deputies, state troopers, and both ambulance services were busy proving how important they are to our community.

Here’s a portion of their day…….

Before midnight Friday, Monticello Fire & Rescue was paged out to a single car wreck on HWY 293 near Selma, where an Oldsmobile’s 3 passengers needed them.  Arkansas State Troopers worked the wreck, assisted by Drew County Sheriff’s Deputies.  SEEMS transported the 3 victims to Drew Memorial.  Although it turns out that Fire & Rescue weren’t needed, the caller who reported the crash believed the 3 victims were pinned inside the vehicle.

Prior to this Arkansas State Troopers had made 3 DWI arrests late in the evening, protecting Drew County drivers.

4 am Car Crash on Barkada Road, Saturday.

Around 4am, Saturday morning, a Chrysler 300 crashed into a tree, 4 miles out, on Barkada Road.  The person who called this in reported that the driver was still inside the car, and it looked like the car was on fire.  Fire & Rescue were called out to save the crash victim.  When Drew County Deputies arrived on the scene, with Fire & Rescue right behind them, it was discovered that the “possible fire” was “air bag dust”, but at 4 in the morning, the caller couldn’t tell.  MASI transported the driver to DMH.  Triple A towed the vehicle.

First Responders Recognized by Local Veterans at Flag Dedication Ceremony at 1st Baptist Church

Several of our emergency personnel were recognized for their dedication and service, during a flag and flagpole dedication at First Baptist Church at 10 o’clock, by our local veteran’s organizations and Woodmen of the World.

House Fire at Dead Man's Curve, Saturday, 12:45.

Many of them attended a Community Prayer Rally at the Drew County Courthouse at noon, but were called out to a double-wide mobile home at 12:45, which was called in “the cars are there, but no one is standing outside.”  The photo shows how engulfed the structure was when it was called in.  Firefighters battled the blaze for 4 hours, hauling water from Carpenter Road, 1.5 miles away, until the fire was out.  Also worth noting, SEEMS came to the scene, “just in case” there would’ve been someone inside who needed medical care, and also, Sheriff Gober, an off-duty auxiliary deputy, and an area constable were at the fire, in case they were needed.

SEEMS Displayed a U. S. Flag on their Ambulance, in Honor of 9/11, Saturday

After getting the trucks ready for their next call, whatever it may be, and a very late lunch (at around 4:30), they got to sit down for the first time all day.

Unfortunately, that wasn’t the end of the day for the Monticello Fire Dept.  The “Old Bradley Mill” in Warren caught on fire around 11 pm, Saturday night, and they were called to assist Warren’s Fire Dept.  Monticello’s firefighters arrived back at the fire-station 6 hours later.

Throughout the day, our Monticello Police and Drew County Sheriff’s Deputies answered calls of all types, around the clock.  SEEMS and MASI were on duty, providing their services, as always, at a moments notice.   The emergency room staff at Drew Memorial were ready and waiting, for whatever illness or injury came through the door next.

There wasn’t a minute of the day that there wasn’t a dispatcher standing by take you call, in case of emergency at MPD, ready to send whichever of these dedicated public workers your way, in your time of need.

As we look back on 9/11/2001, we should also recognize that same dedication that our Drew County emergency personel serve us with.

Thomas Allen Adams, age 31, Tuesday, accepted a “no contest” plea for the January 25 rape of a Wilmar area child.

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On Thursday, August 26, 2010 agents of the Tenth Drug Task Force were attempting to stop a vehicle driven by James Daniels, age 39, formerly of Warren, currently residing in Little Rock, Arkansas.  A search warrant had been obtained for the vehicle prior to the stop as information had been received that the vehicle was transporting narcotics to South Arkansas.

The stop occurred on County Road 133 near the intersection of 133 and Highway 35.

As Agents made the initial stop on the vehicle, a second Task Force vehicle pulled in front of the vehicle driven by Daniels and occupied by three other suspects. As Agents exited from the blocking vehicle, Daniels accelerated his vehicle as it swerved towards and rammed the blocking vehicle, striking a DTF agent. The agent fired on Daniels’ vehicle, striking the front and rear passenger side tires. (more…)

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Armonzo Watkins & Samantha Barnett at Bond Hearing

Brittany Garcia & Santonio Vaughn at 1st Appearance Hearing.

At 4:02, Saturday morning, a 911 call came into the Monticello Police Dept., reporting a robbery at one of the Park Hill apartments, on North Slemmons St.

Jeffery Thomas, after arrest.

Two of the victims were treated and released from Drew Memorial Hospital, later in the day, Saturday. (more…)

Duane Gonder, age 25 of Monticello, plead guilty, Friday morning, to the charges of 1st degree murder of his brother, Marcus Gonder, aggravated assault, and attempted introduction of a prohibited item into a jail.

Gonder was sentenced to serve 46 years in the Arkansas Dept. of Correction.

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Rodney Scales, age 36 of Dermott, was found guilty by a Drew County jury Friday, on the charges of possession of cocaine with intent to deliver and fleeing (without concern for human life).

Scales was sentenced to 80 years on the cocaine charge, and 4 years on the fleeing charge.  The jury recommended the charges run consecutive, for a total of 84.  Scales will not be eligible for parole for approximately 21 years.

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Antwon Clifton, age 16 of Wilmar, died Tuesday, after being removed from life support at Children’s Hospital in Little Rock.

The youth was the victim of drowning at Lake Monticello on Monday, June 7.

The obituary will be posted when detail are announced.  (more…)