Special prosecutor appointed in Hunt case; assault alleged after accident

BENTONVILLE -- A special prosecutor has not decided whether charges will be filed against the son of J.B. Hunt in connection with the alleged assault of a motorist after a June 3 accident.

Johnnie Bryan Hunt Jr. was arrested on suspicion of aggravated assault, a Class D felony, on June 3 in Rogers.

Hunt's arraignment was set for Monday, but neither he nor Ken Shemin, his attorney, were in court Monday morning.

Hunt's father, the late J.B. Hunt Sr., founded J.B Hunt Transport Services based in Lowell.

Jason Barrett, who was appointed special prosecutor, told Circuit Judge Brad Karren he had been in contact with Shemin, who was out of town. An investigation is ongoing, Barrett said.

"I hope within the month to have a decision on the charges," he said.

Hunt's arraignment was reset to 8 a.m. Aug. 31. The case is assigned to Circuit Judge Robin Green.

Barrett declined to comment after the short hearing.

Nathan Smith, Benton County prosecuting attorney, requested a special prosecutor and Barrett was assigned the case. Smith said Hunt, 57, sent him text messages about the situation prior to being arrested, according to police documents.

Rogers police received a call at 7:33 a.m. June 3 concerning a vehicle collision. One of the vehicles had left the scene, according to court documents.

A dispatcher later informed officers that the two vehicles -- a Cadillac Escalade and black pickup -- were stopped at an intersection, according to court documents.

Omar Salinas told police he was driving the black pickup and turned left onto North Eighth Street and into the path of the Escalade. Salinas said he felt an impact, but he did not stop and the Escalade began to follow him. Salinas said he was making a right turn on Walnut Street when he saw the Escalade turn left. It collided with the driver's side of his vehicle, according to court documents.

Hunt stated in a police report a truck hit his Escalade and left the scene. He followed it to Walnut Street and when he tried to get the license plate number, the driver of the pickup drove the pickup toward the Escalade again.

Darrin Swenson, who was in the vehicle with Hunt, told police they followed Salinas' vehicle to try and get the license plate number after the pickup hit the Escalade, according to police reports. Swenson said they lost the pickup, but saw it again on Walnut Street and the pickup came at them a second time, according to police reports.

The Escalade blocked the driver's side door of the pickup. Hunt and Swenson went to the passenger door to prevent Salinas from leaving the scene, according to the reports.

A witness reported seeing the two men holding Salinas on the ground and yelling at him, according to police reports.

Police arrived and Hunt was arrested in connection with aggravated assault. Salinas was arrested in connection with leaving the scene of an accident, a misdemeanor.

Smith was interviewed by Rogers police. Smith said he was on his way to work when he received a text from Hunt. The text was about being at the scene of an accident with a suspect, but police would not arrest him.

Hunt asked for help so police could arrest the suspect. Smith responded he would contact Rogers Police Chief Hayes Minor to see if he could send an officer to the scene. Smith said he thought Hunt was involved in a simple accident, according to a report of his interview.

Smith said he thought Hunt was texting him to see if he could get help to apprehend the suspect. Smith said he was not aware that police were at the scene when Hunt sent the text messages to him.

Hunt sent Smith two text messages. In the last message Hunt told Smith he was being arrested.

Smith said he contacted Minor so officers could respond. Minor later informed Smith officers arrested Hunt at the scene.

"Because Mr. Hunt made statements to me that morning about the accident I could potentially be called as a witness," Smith said. "The law is clear that an attorney cannot prosecute a case and also be a witness."

Smith said his office will have no involvement in deciding whether to charge Hunt with a crime or with any potential prosecution.

Hunt was released on citation after his arrest.

NW News on 07/14/2015

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