Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Tear gas controls fleeing burglar

Two men have been charged with commercial burglary for allegedly forcing entry into the Gurdon school complex at three locations and taking a laptop computer, a camcorder and miscellaneous smaller items.

They await court dates in the Clark County Jail.

Gurdon Marshal Don Childres said Chris Mills, 24, who moved to Gurdon from St. Louis, Mo., and Brandon Etue, 18, of the 900 block of Beech Street, have been arrested.

Childres said tear gas was used on Mills when he attempted to run from police.

The arrests were for break-ins at the Gurdon High School, the Cabe Middle School and the sports field house. The break-ins reportedly occurred over the weekend of July 8 through July 10.

Mills and Etue face Class C felony charges in connection with the break-ins. Childres said conviction of a Class C felony "can result in several years of penitentiary time."

Childres said Mills, also known as Chris Stephens, and Etue, are in jail on a $25,000 bond each.

"After Arkansas gets through prosecuting Mills, he is wanted in St. Louis on assault charges. We will send him to Missouri for his previous warrants," Childres said. "We are still looking for the camcorder and the smaller items, but the laptop computer has been returned to the school. The suspects said something about burning some of the school property."

Childres said a teenage girl, also from Gurdon, was arrested for being involved in the break-ins, "but if there are any charges on her that would be through the juvenile court system."

Childres said he has not heard of any charges being pressed on the girl.

Childres said his department and the Clark County Sheriffs Department have done a joint investigation of the school break-ins.

Tear gas

The arresting officers were Childres, Patrolman Chris Russell and Patrolman Nicky Calley.

Childres said, "Friday night (July 14), our suspects were trying to break into Calleys Fina Station and we recognized them. When they saw us, they ran and never broke in there.

"We arrested them at a house on the 300 block of Joslyn Street around 11 p.m. on Monday (July 17)."

According to Childres, Etue and the girl were in the house and arrested without incident. Mills fled out the back door when the police arrived. Childres said the officers used tear gas on Mills as he ran.

"He surrendered and the apprehension was accomplished. But I have a new respect for how strong tear gas really is," Childres said.

"We all got checked out by the Baptist Memorial Ambulance Service, just to be sure everyone was okay."

Childres said Mills and Etue are suspected to have been involved in at least three other Gurdon burglaries over the last couple of months.

"In those cases, money was taken. I believe they left the school so quickly because they were looking for money and didnt find any," Childres said.