Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Broadway Hotel Owner Murdered

By JOHN MILLER

A 77-year-old Prescott man was apparently beaten to death Saturday night.

According to reports from the Arkansas State Police and Nevada County Sheriff's Office, Chester Hooker, the owner of the Broadway Hotel, was found dead around 10:30, Saturday, September 6.

His death was caused by apparent injuries to his head and face. The body was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock where an autopsy was performed to determine the exact cause of death.

According to officials, robbery is believed to be the motive for the killing. No money was found in the victim's wallet, and he was known to carry cash on his person.

Jim Westmoreland, criminal investigator for the NCSO and PPD, said leads are being checked in the case and officials are confident an arrest will be made in the case.

Sgt. Jack Ursury, criminal investigator with the ASP, said the ASP, NCSO and PPD are working to solve this murder.

CHILD ABUSE

Two local adults have been charged with the abuse of a 20-month-old child.

According to Westmoreland, Chrystal Davis, 21, of Prescott, and Bobby Rhodes, 23, also of Prescott, were charged with second degree battery, a class D felony.

Westmoreland said the child was taken to Medical Park Hospital in Hope for treatment of a broken leg and other possible injuries, Thursday, Aug. 28,. Authorities with MPH notified the Department of Human Services, who, in turn, called the NCSO.

The investigation led to the arrest of Davis and Rhodes. Davis is being held without bond in the Nevada County jail because of a parole revocation warrant. Rhodes was able to bond out on a $25,000 bond.

The child was taken to the Arkansas Children's Hospital in Little Rock and is in the DHS's custody.

Westmoreland said battery second degree is a class D felony punishable by up to six years in prison and a fine of up to $10,000.

ARREST MADE

One arrest has been made in connection with the break in at two local churches.

Westmoreland said the break in the case came Friday, Aug. 29, when a probable cause warrant was issued for Tracy Williams, 21, of Hempstead County.

He was arrested the same day by Nevada County Sheriff Steve Otwell and Hempstead County Sheriff Jerry Crane.

Williams was charged with commercial burglary and theft of property. He is being held without bond in the Nevada County. Williams also faces probation revocation for the same offenses.

Westmoreland said a second arrest in the case is pending.

DRIVE-BY SHOOTINGS

An 18-year-old Hempstead County man was arrested by the PPD Friday, Aug. 29, for firing shots from his vehicle.

According to Westmoreland, Charles L. Williams was arrested by PPD officers Kristi Hillery, Sgt. Walt DeYoung and officer Sam Reeder.

The PPD received calls of a person shooting at businesses in town from a vehicle. The Beautiful Accents gift shop on Rosston Road, Graham Real Estate and the laundry mat were damaged by the gunfire.

Williams was charged with unlawful discharge of a firearm from a vehicle in the second degree, and could be charged with criminal mischief as well. The weapon charge is a class B felony carrying a sentence of 5-20 years in prison and a fine of no more than $15,000.

VEHICLE RECOVERED

A stretch limousine stolen Saturday, Sept. 6, was recovered Sunday, Sept. 7, in Nevada County by the PPD.

According to reports, the PPD got a call from the Clark County Sheriff's Office about a black limo having stolen $22 worth of gas.

The vehicle was spotted at the 46-mile-marker and stopped a mile later by a PPD officer.

The driver was identified as Erick Glover. The officer noticed a pair of large bolt cutters in the passenger's seat and a screwdriver on the driver's seat by Glover's leg.

The officer also saw the vehicle's ignition had been "punched" so the vehicle could be hot wired and started without a key.

A check was ran on the car, with it having been reported stolen from the Trumann Police Department in Craighead County.

Glover, it turns out, was an escapee from Craighead County and had allegedly stolen the limo to make his getaway. He has been returned to Trumann where he is currently in jail.

PMS BREAK-IN

The Prescott Middle School gym was broken into sometime Sunday night, with a vending machine vandalized and its contents stolen.

According to the report from the PPD, the report was made Monday, Sept. 8, by PMS Principal Jim Gober.

A window in the front door of the gym was broken out so entry could be gained into the facility. The suspect(s) broke the front glass out of a vending machine, taking several items of candy and chips, along with removing the money from another machine.

The suspect(s) locked the door when leaving.