The state/region in brief

Man arrested

in rape, stabbing

SEARCY - Police on Wednesday arrested a man who they said repeatedly stabbed a Searcy woman and then raped her 12-yearold daughter.

Police had earlier obtained an arrest warrant Wednesday afternoon for Aaron Ray Rash, 29, on charges of rape and firstdegree battery, both felonies. Rash’s last known address was Bald Knob, police said.

The White County sheriff’s office arrested Rash in Searcy without incident shortly after 4 p.m.

Wednesday after getting a call about “a suspicious person in the area,” police spokesman Brittany Eacret said.

According to an earlier police news release, the assailant ran away after stabbing the woman multiple times early Tuesday evening as she tried to prevent him from raping her daughter. Eacret said the assailant used a pocket knife.

The mother was taken to a hospital and is expected to live, Eacret said. Eacret did not know the woman’s condition. The child has been released to family members, Eacret said.

After the man fled the woman’s home, the mother and her daughter rushed to a neighbor’s home to call 911, police said.

Eacret said the mother was friends with the suspect’s sister and he had come to the family’s home to visit.

“That was the first time that they [mother and daughter] had met him,” Eacret said.

Police said Rash is a registered sex offender and also has a parole violation.

  • ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Body discovered

near golf course

BROOKLAND - Authorities in northeast Arkansas are investigating after a body was found near a golf course in Craighead County.

Sheriff Jack McCann said the body was discovered Thursday morning in Brookland.

Jonesboro television station KAIT reported that the body was found on U.S.

49 across from a golf course.

Authorities said officers are still working the scene.

No details were released about the identity of the victim or a cause of death.

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESSState troopers

collide, total cars

SEARCY - State police are investigating a crash in Searcy involving two troopers who totaled both patrol cars.

No one was hurt in the Monday night accident, which Searcy police said occurred when the troopers were driving to assist Searcy police officers, who were trying to find a man who’d been involved in a disturbance.

The Daily Citizen reported that the troopers were both headed west on Pleasure Street when one trooper slowed to makea turn and the other one turned into the path of the first cruiser.

State police Capt. Jeff Drew said the agency is investigating.

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Elevator shaft fall fatal to man

TULSA - Tulsa police said a man died after he apparently fell down an elevator shaft in a vacant building.

Police said two men were taking shelter from cold weather Thursday in the former Abundant Life building in downtown Tulsa.

Police said the second man called 911 from a nearby convenience store after the accident.

Emergency crews are working to remove the body from the building, which has been vacant for about a decade. Authorities said the building contains asbestos so crews are taking safety precautions.

Police said they don’t believe foul play was involved in the death.

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESSCourt escapee

gets 6-year term

HARRISBURG - A man who fled a court appearance by running to a jury room and jumping out the window is to spend six more years in prison.

Officials said 24-year-old Chad Costner of Harrisburg was in court in Poinsett County in August to face a breaking and entering charge. Costner purportedly told a deputy he had to use the bathroom and made his run after the deputy told him to wait.

On Monday, Costner pleaded guilty to thirddegree escape and breaking and entering. Circuit Judge David Laser pronounced the sentence.

The Jonesboro Sun reported Laser gave Costner credit for the six months he’s already spent in jail. The judge also fined Costner $1,500 and ordered him to pay $470 in court costs.

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESSEx-UPS driver

arrested in theft

FORREST CITY - A former delivery driver is accused of stealing prescription narcotics from packages he was supposed to have delivered in St. Francis County.

Sheriff’s deputies on Tuesday arrested 44-yearold Michael Cole of Forrest City for fraudulent practices involving controlled substances.

The Times-Herald of Forrest City reported that Cole is a former UPS driver and is accused of stealing oxycodone, lorazepam and other drugs.

An arrest affidavit said UPS received customer complaints about missing pills from bottles delivered by the company. The document said company surveillance video showed Cole tampering with packages and that all parcels with missing medicine were from his route.

Cole was released on $10,000 bond.

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 10 on 12/21/2012

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