By TAMARA JOHNSON
Managing Editor
Two people died as the result of a head-on collision Friday morning near Madison in which speed is being cited as the cause.
Julian C. Crumbly, 75, of Chicago, was killed instantly when his 1996 Oldsmobile was hit head-on by a 1994 Dodge Spirit driven by Kelly Jeanette Drum-Jackson, 32, of Cherry Valley. Drum-Jackson died later Friday night at the Med Center in Memphis, according to Arkansas State Police Troop D Trooper First Class Franklin McMillion.
The accident occurred about 11 a.m. on Highway 70 at Crow Creek, just west of Madison. McMillion reported Drum-Jackson was traveling westbound on Highway 70 at a high rate of speed when she lost control of her vehicle and traveled about 269 feet before her car struck Crumbly's vehicle, which was traveling east.
McMillion said Crumbly was pronounced dead at the accident scene.
Drum-Jackson was taken by ambulance to Baptist Memorial Hospital-Forrest City where she was treated and airlifted to the Med Center in Memphis where she later died.
Four people were arrested for prostitution during an undercover operation Friday night in downtown Forrest City.
The Forrest City Police Department reported the four were offering sexual acts in exchange for money in the Broadway and Division streets area, and the investigation began after police received several complaints from citizens in that area.
According to the FCPD press release, officers arrested four subjects one male and three females on charges of prostitution after each suspect allegedly offered to have sex for money.
Lamont McCline, 30, 942 Victor St.; Ethel May Mullins, 42, 810 Oakland St., and Twanna Bonner-Bey, 40, 120 N. Beech St., all of Forrest City, are charged with prostitution. Mullins is also charged with resisting arrest.
The fourth suspect, Orrine Yvonne Paige, 27, of Rice St., Apt. 187, Forrest City, is also charged with prostitution. She was booked on that charge and then turned over to officers with the Wynne Police Department for outstanding fugitive warrants for failure to comply and failure to appear.
According to police, prostitution is a misdemeanor charge on the first offense, and carries a maximum sentence of one year in the county jail and a fine not to exceed $1,000.
By KENDALL OWENS
T-H Staff Writer
A chase across three counties Friday afternoon ended with two people in custody of the St. Francis County Sheriff's Department.
According to a report from the SFCSD, Jimmie Evans, 35, of Brinkley, and Tammy Hart, 35, of Marianna, were traveling in a 2002 green Ford pickup, driven by Evans, when Wheatley Police Chief Bill Talley attempted to question the pair near a Wheatley gas station. According to the report, Talley began chasing the truck after Evans refused to stop.
"The two individuals led me on a 45-minute, three-county chase going through rice fields, bean fields and back roads until my vehicle became disabled," Talley said in the report.
The chase, which extended into Woodruff and Monroe counties and onto Interstate 40, was joined by SFC deputies, deputies with the Woodruff County Sheriff's Department and an Arkansas Game and Fish Warden. The chase ended on St. Francis County Road 851 near Palestine after Evans' pickup had a blowout, according to St. Francis County Deputy Mel Dickerson. According to Dickerson, Hart was apprehended at the scene, but Evans escaped.
"We searched for him for hours, but he was able to get away from us. Later that night, someone in Palestine saw him walking down the railroad tracks into Palestine and called us. When deputies arrived, he gave himself up," said Dickerson.
Evans is charged with felony counts of fleeing and criminal mischief, and Hart has been charged with felony counts of fleeing, hindering apprehension and criminal mischief.
According to the report, Talley was originally attempting to stop Evans to question him in connection with a drug investigation.
Two robberies were reported over the weekend in Forrest City, one Sunday and one early this morning.
The first was reported by Rodolfo S. Gomez and Jose L. Gomez, both of Dallas, Texas, who were staying at the Comfort Inn, Room 203. They reported that there was a knock on the door, and when they opened the door there was a man who said he was an undercover policeman investigating a report of drugs in the area.
When asked to show some identification, the man pulled a pistol. He left with about $1,450 in cash, a wallet, an ATM card and a driver's license, according to police.
The second robbery took place at about 3:15 this morning. Bart A. Stacy, a truck driver from Mobile, Ala., reported that he was in a parking lot at 408 Highway 149 North in Heth, when a man came up behind him with what appeared to be a gun, and demanded his wallet.
The man got away with $85 in cash, several credit cards and a driver's license.
Both incidents are under investigation.
A full schedule of meetings are planned for this week throughout St. Francis County.
The Forrest City Airport Commission is scheduled to meet tonight at 6 at the airport.
On Tuesday, the Forrest City Advertising and Promotions Commission is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. at the Forrest City Area Chamber of Commerce office.
The St. Francis County Quorum Court's personnel committee will meet at 5 p.m., followed by a budget committee meeting at 6 p.m., at the courthouse.
At 7 p.m., the Palestine and Caldwell city councils will meet at each city's city hall. The Hughes School Board is scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. at the school.
On Thursday, the Colt City Council will meet at 6 p.m. at city hall, and the Wheatley City Council will meet at 7 p.m. at city hall.