Officer Chris Rankin

Public Information Officer

903-798-3187 (office) 903-260-0294 (pager)

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

Texarkana Arkansas Police Badge

Re: Officers/ K-9 Locate Juveniles & Guns in a Wooded Area Burglary Solved

One 18 year old and two area juveniles are in custody after patrol officers heard shots fired in the area of E.9th and Ray St. At approximately 11:00pm officer Wayne Easley reported hearing shots fired in this area. Officer Easley responded to the area and began searching with a spotlight. As officer Easley passed the 600 block of Ray St. he reported hearing someone running through a vacant lot. He then observed a subject lying face down on the ground in a wooded area in an apparent attempt to conceal himself. Officer Easley ordered the suspect to his feet and immediately noticed that the suspect was laying on top of a .12 gauge shotgun. The juvenile suspect was immediately taken into custody by officer Easley and it was then that he noticed a 2nd shotgun, a double-barreled .410 gauge, that was laying near the suspect.

At this point officer Easley advised that he could hear the sound of additional suspects running away through the same wooded area. A perimeter was set around the area and Officer Savage and his K-9 partner "Zorg" responded to assist in the search for the suspect. K-9 "Zorg" tracked through the wooded area and located a second juvenile suspect hiding underneath a residence in the 2400 block of Delaware St. K-9 "Zorg" also led officers to three additional guns, a .20 gauge shotgun, a .22 cal rifle, and a .22 cal pistol. Officers also located a black suitcase which contained ammunition for several of the listed weapons.

After being taken into custody, the two juveniles advised officers of the name and residence of the third suspect, Prentice Johnson (b/m/18yoa Texarkana, AR). Johnson was located at his residence and evidence was noted which connected him to the two juveniles. The two juveniles were transported to JDC and Johnson was taken to the Bi-State Center Jail.

It was later determined that the guns in this case had been stolen from a residence in the 900 block of Lawrence St. This residence is approximately 3 blocks from where the two juveniles had been arrested.

Further charges of residential burglary may be pending against the suspects.

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