Operation results in arrests acrossPoinsett County

TRUMANN – Law enforcement officers in Poinsett County conducted an operation Wednesday that resulted in numerous suspects being arrested.

According to Trumann Police Chief Jonathan Redman, his department, along with the Poinsett County Sheriff’s Office and Arkansas Community Corrections, arrested nine people on Feb. 7 as part of Operation British Invasion.

A news release stated officers served four arrest warrants and seized 65 grams of meth, 12 grams of schedule IV pills, a glass pipe, scales, and a needle.

The following suspects are being held for a probable cause hearing:

• Yuzanna Foxx

• Douglas Brown

• Thomas Roberts

• Samantha Parker

• Heath Raymond

• Kathy Burgess

• Joseph Doyle

• Shane O’Brien

• Eric Cook Redman noted the operation was named Operation British Invasion due to Wednesday being the 60th anniversary of rock band The Beatles landing in the United States. Each team name carried the last name of each of the band members.

“We are grateful for the success of this operation and we will continue to fight to keep drugs and those who sell them off of our streets,” Redman said.

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PARAGOULD – A Greene County man faces a rape charge after a state crime lab report showed his DNA on a sexual assault kit taken in the case 'within all scientific certainty,' according to Paragould police.

Jason Rowland, 21, of Paragould was arrested this week in connection with the Oct. 2022 case.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Paragould police said they went to AMMC on Oct. 4, 2022 due to a rape report in the emergency room.

'The victim told officers that the potential defendant, Jason Rowland, had sex with them while they were intoxicated and did not consent to the act.

On October 11, 2022, Jason Rowland was interviewed at the police substation, located at 801 E. Court Street. During a Mirandized interview, Jason gave self-incriminating statements,' Paragould police said in the affidavit.

Rowland agreed to do a DNA swab for police and the DNA sample, along with a sexual assault kit was sent to the Arkansas State Crime Lab in Little Rock for analysis, police said. Paragould police finally received a copy this week of the results from the crime lab.

'On February 6, 2024, the Arkansas State Crime Lab results identified Jason Rowland as the contributor to the DNA profile found on the sexual assault kit within all scientific certainty,' Paragould police said.

A $25,000 bond was set for Rowland, who has bonded out of jail, in the case.

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Parts of Arkansas could see winter weather this weekend

FAYETTEVILLE — The past few days have been really pleasant with mild temperatures and plenty of sunshine.

This is mainly because of our upper level weather pattern.

On Monday we were upstream a departing trough axis. This pattern producers upper level confluence which will serve as a mechanism to increase high pressure and usher in a more quiet weather pattern. On Tuesday and Wednesday we were under the influence of an upper level ridge which is high pressure aloft. This pattern gives us unseasonably mild temperatures and dry weather.

“Today is Thursday and the winds are cranking up,” said meteorologist Zach Gilday.

“If today is your trash day, your trash can might have been tipped over. The wind increase is a sign of a more active pattern.”

“Now we are in a more active southwest flow pattern. We are set to be affected by multiple storm systems Friday through this weekend,” he added “The first event that we have to look at is Friday evening. A shortwave trough near Las Vegas is set to cross the Rocky Mountains and the plains tonight and tomorrow.

This will serve as a potential trigger mechanism for storm development. The latest track of the piece of energy has it moving north of us. Even with this track there still could be enough forcing for storms.

Storm coverage looks to be isolated to widely scattered.

There is also a threat of strong to severe storms. The question then becomes, “will there be the right ingredients in place?” We need to have instability and wind shear. The HRRR model is showing in-

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stability return. We can thank the gusty south southwest winds ushering in the moisture some moisture return as well.

“After a looking at the latest, a conditional chance of severe storms from about 4:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Friday evening.

The main hazards are large hail and damaging winds.

There is a non-zero chance of a tornado. The only question that remain is, will shortwave trough move in or take a more northerly track. We will have to wait and see,” said Gilday.

“Our attention then turns to Sunday where a more potent upper level wave is set to move in.

Rain is expected to overspread the area from the south to the north. The river valley may even see a few storms during the day Sunday. Severe weather is not expected. As the system departs to the northeast we will have the chance for wrap around snow.

Rainfall totals look to be any where from 0.5 to up to 1.5 inches. Localized higher totals will be possible as well. Even though severe weather is not expected heavy rain will be possible at times.

“A changeover to wintry mix and then all snow is possible late Sunday evening into Monday morning.

The snow may even become heavy at times, but at this point accumulations do not look too high with temperatures only expected to drop to around 30 degrees.

It is still a little ways away so there are some uncertainties, but at this point the confidence in seeing impacts from this Sunday night and Monday morning is increasing,” said Golday. “We will monitor the latest trends, because as with any winter storm system they are highly dependent on the track of the low.”

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Group resubmits proposed amendment to broaden medical marijuana access

LITTLE ROCK — Tuesday, a group called Arkansans for Patient Access resubmitted a proposed constitutional amendment that would loosen restrictions on medical marijuana in Arkansas.

The proposed ballot measure for the November general election was previously rejected by Arkansas Attorney General Tim Griffin in January over technical issues with its language.

Drafters of the amendment— including lobbyists, dispensaries, cultivators, patient advocates, and the Wright Lindsey Jennings Law Firm in Little Rock—say it would address perceived shortcomings in 2016's Amendment 98, which legalized medical marijuana in the state.

'It's been very strictly regulated, and I think that's been good. We're now at a point where I think that the industry has proven itself and it can expand—again, with the state's cooperation and oversight,' said Stephen Lancaster, an attorney with the Wright Lindsey Jennings law firm.

The proposed amendment, titled the Arkansas Medical Cannabis Amendment of 2024, would increase access to medical marijuana by allowing a wider range of medical professionals to prescribe it to patients suffering any ailment, allow patients to grow a limited amount at home, extend the expiration date of cards from one to three years, and stop requiring parents of juvenile patients to have a federal background check.

The amendment would also legalize advertising.