Cpl. Bart Veal

Public Information Officer

903-798-3187 (office) 903-798-2368 (pager)

903-824-4199 (cell) 903-798-3023 (fax)

Texarkana Arkansas Police Badge

Re: Increased Holiday Crimes

Texarkana Arkansas Patrol, Special Operations and Investigations Officers answered 52 calls yesterday from 2:00pm to 6:00am this morning. The calls kept both shifts very busy and ranged from breaking and entering to robbery and home invasion. We see an increase of crimes against persons and vehicle burglaries crimes during the Holiday Seasons. Last night was example of this for the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department, and although we are currently facing manpower shortages and budget constraints, we want our community to know that we will continue to provide them with the highest standard of police services available.

The following are just some of the events that occurred during two shifts at the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department.

At 7:36pm Texarkana Arkansas Patrol Offices were called to the E-Z Mart at 1205 East St. in reference to a robbery. According to reports a black male entered the store and demanded money while displaying a knife. The clerk complied and was unharmed. The black male was last seen running from the store with an undetermined amount of cash. Special Operations Units and members of the Criminal Investigation Division supplemented patrol and K-9 officers to investigate this case.

At 12:19pm Patrol Officers responded to the 1300 block of Harner St. in reference to a home invasion. According to reports a 35 year-old female called 911 after she escaped the assault of a black male had entered her home through an unlocked window. The victim told police that she awoke to find the suspect standing near her bed in her bedroom. The woman was able to run to the front door and was unlocking the door when Marks attacked her. She fought back and managed escape the house where she ran to the neighbors. Patrol, Special Operations and K-9 units began searching the area when they received a prowler call a few blocks away, in the 1100 block of Harner. A man was awakened to the sound of someone attempting to open his bedroom window. He then watched from another window as the same man try to force open a window of his next-door neighbors house. Officer Douglas and his K-9 partner Bruno deployed into the area were able to track the suspect, Marks to a house in the 400 block of Ida St.

Vincent Marks was arrested and charged at the scene with felony Burglary and Public Intoxication. Detectives are still investigating the case and additional felony charges are expected.

Marks as also been positively linked to the E-Z Mart robbery and a warrant of felony Aggravated Robbery is pending.

At 2:29am off duty Texarkana Arkansas Officer Corwin Battle saw a white male taking items from a truck at the Links Apartment Complex. He called for assistance and along with two on-duty officers located 27 year-old Samuel Bruce running from a patrol unit near the scene of the crime. It was later learned that Bruce had burglarized another vehicle near the first vehicle.

Samuel Bruce was charged with two felony counts of Breaking and Entering.

Thank you and you can visit the Texarkana Arkansas Police Department online at http://www.txkusa.org/arkpolice.