Standoff at Conway business ends in gunfire

CONWAY — A standoff between the Conway Police Department and an armed man ended with the suspect dead.

No CPD officers were injured after they exchanged gunfire with an armed man who barricaded himself inside Massage Envy on Amity Road in Conway on Saturday morning.

The man, who remains unnamed, was taken to the hospital after officers struck him after he fired a gun at CPD SWAT and Negotiations Team officers who responded to the incident, department spokesman Matthew Boyd told our sister puplication the Log Cabin Democrat on Saturday morning. Boyd said the man drove his car into Massage Envy and “barricaded himself in a room.” Later Saturday afternoon, the department announced the man had died from his injuries.

“The subject succumbed to his injuries while at the hospital,” CPD posted to social media. “Thank you to the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office, Pafford EMS, Conway Fire Department, and the Arkansas State Police for their help during this incident.”

The Arkansas State Police are investigating the incident, Boyd said, adding that “some officers involved in the incident were placed on administrative leave pending the investigation.”

“No further information will be released at this time and questions can be directed to the Arkansas State Police,” Boyd said.

Just after 9:15 a.m. on Saturday, Massage Envy made a Facebook post warning the public to stay away from their location on Amity Road.

“We have had a car run through the front of the clinic,” Massage Envy said.

“Please do not come to the clinic as it is a police situation at this time.”

Social media users reported a significant police presence at the Lewis Crossing Shopping Center and that stores in the center were on lockdown during the incident.

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JONESBORO — A Jonesboro police officer and her roommate were both arrested on Wednesday following a fight in the house they share between the Jonesboro and Bono city limits.

Alexis Brianna Burns, 27, has been placed on paid administrative leave, pending an internal investigation, Sally Smith, public information specialist for the Jonesboro Police Department, said Thursday.

Burns and Sydney Smith, 28, were both arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor 3rd-degree domestic battery as a result of the altercation that was reported shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday.

Smith’s father called 911 dispatchers, asking for officers to check on his daughter’s safety, Craighead County Deputy Sheriff Will Tate said.

When the deputy arrived, he noted “a large amount of blood” on Smith’s face. He said Smith asked for an ambulance “because she banged my head on the floor and my head hurts.”

Smith said the fight started when she told Burns she was moving out.

“Ms. Burns then grabbed a knife and told Ms. Smith she was doing downstairs to cut up her stuff,” according to Tate’s report.

Smith said she tried to prevent Burns from going downstairs, but Burns pushed her against the wall and slammed the back of her head onto the ground.

Burns told police Smith punched her in the face and admitted to putting her hands around Smith’s neck.

“Ms. Burns asked if she was

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going to jail, I told her that both would be going to jail due to injuries,” Tate wrote. “Even if I was defending myself?” Tate said Burns asked.

Both Burns and Tate are scheduled to appear April 16 in Craighead County District Court. At mid-afternoon Thursday, both were still listed as inmates at the Craighead County Detention Center.

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Little Rock woman facing federal charges after investigation into improper use of pandemic funds

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A Little Rock woman is facing federal charges related to an investigation into the alleged improper use of pandemic relief funds.

According to federal court documents, 31-year-old Chandler Wilson Carroll is facing four counts of wire fraud and four counts of alleged money laundering. A grand jury returned the indictment earlier this week charging Carroll with using the money intended for business expenses for the purchase of 2 vehicles, jewelry and real estate.

Court documents show Carroll applied for four loans totaling more than $2 million in 2020 and 2021.

Federal agents raided Carroll’s home office Thursday morning on Crestwood Drive in the Kavanaugh area.

Chandler Wilson Carroll is the founder and CEO of WilCarr Innovations, a company that assists healthcare companies in dealing with regulators.

She appeared before a judge Thursday afternoon for arraignment where she entered a not guilty plea. Carroll was released and ordered to surrender her passport.

A jury trial has been set for May.