The state/region in brief

Searcy man held in relative’s rape

A Searcy man facing accusations of raping a female relative is seeking to have his bail lowered, according to court officials.

Thomas Hamilton, 45, formerly of 1221 Reservoir Road in Little Rock, was arrested and charged with rape and incest Friday, and remained in the Pulaski County jail in lieu of a $200,000 bond Tuesday night after his initial court appearance Sunday.

His bail hearing is set for Friday, court documents said.

Hamilton’s arrest in Searcy by Little Rock detectives came more than a year after a woman called police from a hospital to report the allegation.

According to her, she was put up for adoption at a young age, but she still saw Hamilton a few times a year, and in September 2011, she took Hamilton up on an offer to go out for drinks in Little Rock.

The accuser said she met Hamilton and Hamilton’s girlfriend at a restaurant on University Avenue where they had several drinks.

Toward the end of the evening, the accuser said she “had enough” and needed to go home, so Hamilton drove her to his apartment to “sleep it off.”

Hamilton went back to the bar, affidavits said, and the victim fell asleep.

When she awoke, she was naked and Hamilton was on top of her, the affidavit said. She “yelled at him to stop” several times, according to the affidavit, but he pinned her arms behind her and would not stop.

In April, DNA testing from the state Crime Laboratory matched Hamilton to the attack, and a warrant for his arrest was issued Thursday, a day before he was arrested.

  • ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE Clinton school has pertussis outbreak

CLINTON - The Arkansas Department of Health said Tuesday that it is investigating an outbreak of pertussis, or whooping cough, at Clinton Intermediate School in Clinton.

The agency said it is working closely with doctors in the area and the school to reduce the spread of the disease. Students at the school are getting booster vaccines, and children with symptoms consistent with whooping cough are getting antibiotics to prevent spread of the infection, the agency said.

Pertussis is a contagious respiratory ailment that can cause serious illness. People with pertussis usually spread the disease by coughing or sneezing while in close contact with others, who then breathe in the pertussis bacteria.

Symptoms usually develop within seven to 10 days after exposure and include persistent, rapid coughing fits;

a “whooping” sound caused by rapid intake of air after a coughing fit; throwing up because of extreme coughing;

and exhaustion from coughing.

  • ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE U.S. 63 crash kills

Biggers woman

A Biggers woman died Tuesday morning when her car overturned in Lawrence County, according to a preliminary Arkansas State Police fatality accident report.

Heather Dickson, 34, was driving north on U.S. 63 just north of Sedgwick when her Mitsubishi Montero crossed into the opposite lane, ran off the road and overturned about 8:55 a.m.

Dickson died at the scene.

  • ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE

Teen steps into path of train, dies

BRYANT - Police in Bryant said a 17-year-old boy was killed when he apparently jumped into the path of a train.

Police said the boy was hit Monday by a Union Pacific train. The boy’s name was not released.

The train’s engineer told officers that the boy could be seen crouched in bushes next to the train track as the train approached, then stepped onto the tracks as the eastbound engine approached.

Police said the boy was pronounced dead at the scene by the Saline County coroner.

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Man acquitted in attack on mayor

SEARCY - A man accused of assaulting the mayor of Higginson has been found innocent by a judge.

Searcy District Judge Mark Pate acquitted Jerry Riley on Tuesday on a misdemeanor charge of third-degree assault. Riley was accused of assaulting Higginson Mayor Randell Homsley after a City Council meeting in April.

The mayor has said Riley was disgruntled with the city of Higginson because the city would not open a street that led to property Riley owned.

The Daily Citizen reported that the judge acquitted Riley on Tuesday but plans to set another court date to explain his decision to both parties.

Homsley told the newspaper that he was confused by the ruling because several people witnessed the alleged attack.

  • THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Northwest Arkansas, Pages 8 on 11/15/2012

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