Sheriff’s manhunt ends in 2 arrests

Man is suspect in attempted murder

Tuesday, December 4, 2012

— A Boone County sheriff’s manhunt ended Monday with the arrest of a Newton County man suspected of attempted capital murder in the weekend robbery of a Bellefonte flea market, in which the store owner was shot in the head.

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Deputies arrested Phillip Engles, 27, at a house on Martin Drive in Newton County where he lives with his girlfriend and his former sister-in-law, Mandy Engles, according to a news release.

He was being held Monday in the Boone County jail, the release said.

The 62-year-old flea-market owner, Ken Warren, was back at work Monday, despite having been shot in the head and arm during the robbery about 4:25 p.m. Saturday. The injured Warren wrestled a .22-caliber pistol away from the gunman during the robbery of Unique Treasures on U.S. 65 South in Bellefonte, a news release said.

Warren was treated and released from a Springfield, Mo., hospital, the release said.

Boone County sheriff’s deputies combed the rural Boone County woods for Engles over the weekend using dogs.

Engles made off with about $1,000 worth of merchandise from the flea market, authorities said. After the robbery, Engles stashed some of the stolen merchandise and the vehicle thought to have been used in the robbery at a home in southern Boone County, Boone County Sheriff Danny Hickman said.

Engles and a woman later identified as Engles’ former sister-in-law, Mandy Engles, 29, then fled in a four-wheel drive truck to a remote area on the Boone-Newton county line, officials said. The truck was later found empty of gas and abandoned on a remote trail.

Officers caught up to Mandy Engles as she was walking back to the house she and Phillip Engles share with Phillip Engles’ girlfriend on Martin Road in Newton County and arrested her on suspicion of hindering apprehension, officials said.

She was in the Boone County jail Monday in lieu of $25,000 bond. No formal charges had been filed against her as of midday Monday.

Phillip Engles was arrested on suspicion of attempted capital murder, aggravated robbery and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Arkansas, Pages 10 on 12/04/2012