Big bonds set for four felony drug suspects

JONESBORO — District Judge Tommy Fowler found probable cause Friday to charge four central Arkansas men with a litany of charges in connection with their arrests early Wednesday morning in Jonesboro.

Pernell Bobo, 23, of Scott, is charged with theft of greater than $25,000, criminal attempt, breaking or entering a vehicle, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, unlawful acts regarding a computer and misdemeanor fleeing.

Nicolas Porter, 23, of North Little Rock, is charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of fentanyl with the purpose to deliver, two counts of possession of methamphetamine or cocaine with the purpose to deliver greater than 2 grams but less than 10 grams, theft by receiving greater than $25,000, possession of marijuana with the purpose to deliver, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, breaking or entering of a vehicle, criminal attempt, unlawful act regarding computer/illegally obtain property, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and possessing an instrument of crime.

Deonandrick McNeil, 27, of Little Rock, is charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms,

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BOBO

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possession of fentanyl with the purpose to deliver, two counts of possession of methamphetamine or cocaine with the purpose to deliver greater than 2 grams but less than 10 grams, theft by receiving greater than $25,000, possession of marijuana with the purpose to deliver, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, breaking or entering of a vehicle, criminal attempt, unlawful act regarding computer/illegally obtain property, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and possessing an instrument of crime.

Torey Ivy, 22, of Little Rock, is charged with simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, possession of fentanyl with the purpose to deliver, two counts of possession of methamphetamine or cocaine with the purpose to deliver greater than 2 grams but less than 10 grams, theft by receiving greater than $25,000, possession of marijuana with the purpose to deliver, felony possession of drug paraphernalia, breaking or entering of a vehicle, criminal attempt, unlawful act regarding computer/illegally obtain property, contributing to the delinquency of a minor and possessing an instrument of crime.

The four men and a 17year-old male were arrested at 2:39 a.m. Wednesday after a traffic stop in the 3000 block of East Parker Road, according to a Jonesboro police report.

“Officers were notified about two suspects trying to break into vehicles at the Honda dealership,” according to a probable cause affidavit. “Upon arrival to Honda, officers observed two suspects (Pernell Bobo) and a juvenile inside of a 2021 Dodge Challenger.”

Police said the two attempted to flee. There was a blue Ford Mustang near the scene that was stolen out of Benton and valued at $57,000.

A blue Yukon was seen circling the area and was stopped. Inside was the juvenile who had fled as well as three other suspects, Ivy, McNeil and Porter.

“A K9 was called to the traffic stop and received a positive alert on the vehicle for the presence of illegal drugs,” the affidavit states.

While searching the vehicle, officers found three handguns – a loaded 9mm Taurus pistol, a 9 mm Glock pistol and a Sig Sauer P365 that was confirmed to be stolen out of Waco, Texas.

They also found a shoebox containing 8 grams of cocaine, 8 grams of methamphetamine, 7 grams of fentanyl and 29 grams of marijuana. They also found a digital scale with drug residue on it and multiple ski masks.

Officers also found an Autel key programmer along with 16 key fobs.

The Autel device plugs into vehicles and creates a master key for the vehicle.

Tools used to break into vehicles were also discovered.

Fowler set the following bonds for the four: Bobo, $50,000; Porter, McNeil and Ivy, $250,000 each.

The judge noted the fentanyl and guns as the reason for the high bonds.

The next court date for all four is June 28 at the Craighead County Courthouse.

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Authorities investigating apparent murder/suicide

PARAGOULD — The investigation is continuing after Paragould police discovered a person dead at a home in an apparent murder/ suicide. According to a post on the Paragould Police Department Facebook page, officers discovered the person May 16 while conducting a welfare check.

The body of the person, whose name was not released, was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock for further investigation, police said.

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'The manner of death was determined to be homicide and a suspect was developed during the investigation,' Paragould police said in the post. 'An arrest warrant was then issued and the suspect was located in a neighboring jurisdiction.

Prior to officers taking them into custody, the suspect took their life via selfinflicted gunshot.'

Police also did not release the name of the suspect in the case.

The investigation into the case is ongoing and officials said in the post that no further information will be released at this time.

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Arkansas 2023 ‘Most Endangered Places’ list released

LITTLE ROCK — Preserve Arkansas announced its 2023 Most Endangered Places list today in front of the William Woodruff House at 1017 E. 8th Street in Little Rock. The 2023 list includes a National Historic Landmark at Helena-West Helena, an architecturally and historically significant neighborhood at Little Rock, and the oldest building standing at Osceola. Preserve Arkansas is also highlighting a prominent bank building in downtown Little Rock as “One to Continue Watching.”

“While all of the properties on this year’s list are significant, two of them have been included on past Most

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Endangered lists, but challenges persist. It is critical that we find cooperative solutions to save these important historic places before they are lost,” said Rachel Patton, executive director of Preserve Arkansas.

The Most Endangered Places Program began in 1999 to raise awareness of historically and architecturally significant properties facing threats such as demolition, deterioration, and insensitive development. Preserve Arkansas solicited nominations from individuals and organizations throughout the state, and a selection committee of preservation professionals, architects, historians, and Preserve Arkansas members chose properties based on their level of significance, severity of the threat, and level of local support. The list is updated each year to generate discussions and support for saving the places that matter to Arkansans.

Threatened Three: The 2023 List of Arkansas’s Most Endangered Places Centennial Baptist Church, Helena-West Helena (Phillips County).

Completed in 1905, Centennial Baptist Church was designed in the Gothic Revival style by African American architect Henry James Price. The church is one of only 17 National Historic Landmarks in Arkansas. It is exceptionally significant for its association with Dr. Elias Camp Morris, a nationally known figure in the Baptist denomination. On April 12, 2020, straight line winds severely damaged the church, pushing the front wall down and lifting the roof off of the sanctuary.

Urgent action is needed to preserve what remains.

Central High School Neighborhood Historic District, Little Rock (Pulaski County). The Central High School Neighborhood Historic District is significant for its association with the westward expansion of Little Rock, the 1957 desegregation crisis, and as a mixeduse neighborhood with buildings dating from the late 19th to the mid-20th centuries. The district’s National Register designation is compromised due to the loss of historic structures to demolition, neglect, and insensitive alterations. A cooperative solution is needed to preserve historic resources, maintain affordability, and encourage investment.

Osceola Times Building, Osceola (Mississippi County). Located on the east side of Osceola’s courthouse square, the National Register-listed Osceola Times Building was constructed in 1901 and was the longtime home of the oldest weekly newspaper in eastern Arkansas.

It is now the oldest building standing at Osceola.

The Osceola Times Building is vacant and deteriorating rapidly due to a partial roof collapse about a year ago. A successful save would see this significant property rehabilitated for a new use and encourage additional renovation efforts in downtown Osceola.

One to Continue Watching: Worthen Bank Building, Little Rock (Pulaski County). The Worthen Bank Building was constructed in 1928 at the southeast corner of 4th and Main streets in downtown Little Rock. Founded in 1877, the Worthen Bank Company was Little Rock’s oldest, continuously-operated financial institution until it was acquired by Boatmen’s Bank in 1994.

From 1969 until January 2023, the building was occupied by KATV, the local ABC affiliate. It is now vacant. A successful save would be the rehabilitation of the facility into offices, housing, or even an urban grocery store.