Woman dies in Saturday night, two-vehicle crash, three injured

WYNNE — A 60 year-old Bald Knob woman died in a Saturday night crash in rural White County on U.S. Highway 64 near Big Green Tom Lake. Three people from Wynne, including two minors were injured, according to a report from Arkansas State Police.

The deceased was identified as Lisa Beard and the adult injured was Whitney Taylor.

The report says a 2024 GMC Yukon, being driven by Taylor, was eastbound on 64 near Big Green Tom Lake at 9:14 p.m. and a 2006 Dodge Charger, driven by Beard, was westbound on 64 near Big Green Tom Lake. The Yukon reportedly crossed the center line and the front of it collided with the front of the Dodge Charger. The injured were taken to Unity Health Hospital in Searcy.

Trooper First Class Robert E.

Puckett reported that the weather was clear and the road was dry at the time of the crash.

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Man arrested after child exploitation investigation

JONESBORO — A Craighead County man is set to appear in court May 24 after his arrest by Jonesboro police in connection with an online child exploitation case, according to authorities.

Martin Leslie Williams, 65, of Jonesboro was arrested on suspicion of distributing or possessing viewing matter depicting sexual conduct involving a child after the investigation. A $35,000 bond was set Monday by District Judge Tommy Fowler for Williams in the case.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Jonesboro police received word about a person being interviewed on Facebook Live about an incident involving a juvenile.

Detectives were able to view the Facebook Live video and saw the person talk about having child exploitation on their cell phone, Jonesboro police said. Officers later went to a home in the 3300 block of Dayton Avenue on April 12 and spoke with Williams, who was identified as the subject in the case, police said in the affidavit.

Police later interviewed

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Williams about the case and he agreed to talk with authorities, Jonesboro police said in the affidavit.

'I then asked Williams if he knew what he was up here to talk about and he stated that it was about talking with an 11year-old female, but he did not know she was 11,' Jonesboro police said in the affidavit. 'I then advised Williams that I wanted to speak with him about what he said in regards to having child exploitation on his phone.

Williams then stated that he did but he was deleting the images when we pulled up.

Williams stated that he did not get all of the images deleted but will delete them when he gets home.'

Police later asked Williams if they could look at his phone and he told them, 'Yes,' Jonesboro police said in the affidavit.

Detectives then looked at the phone and reportedly saw photos of child exploitation on an app.

'I then advised Williams of the child exploitation on the phone and he stated that he had deleted most of them and will delete the rest,' detectives said in the affidavit. 'I then advised Williams that he was not supposed to be in possession of any child exploitation and he stated he knew it was wrong and he was going to delete them all.'

Williams reportedly told police that he had received the images, using different chat apps and that he was banned from Facebook and Instagram 'when asked if he used that to chat with juveniles.'

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Arkansas authorities find more than 27,000 packs of illegal cigarettes

LONOKE COUNTY – Arkansas state officials said Monday that a Georgia man was arrested after authorities seized more than $243,000 worth of illegal cigarettes during a traffic stop in Lonoke County.

According to state officials, agents with Arkansas Tobacco Control and the Central Arkansas Drug Task seized 27,940 packs of illegal cigarettes and $4,142 in cash during a traffic stop on Interstate 40 near Lonoke on April 10.

Officials with the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration said that this marks the second-largest seizure in Tobacco Control’s history since October 2023 near Carlisle.

State officials said that the driver, 35-year-old Emile Bangoura of Atlanta, Georgia, was arrested and taken to the Lonoke County Detention Facility. He is facing a charge of possession of untaxed tobacco.

Arkansas Regulatory Enforcement Division Administrator Trent Minner expressed that his division will continue to combat illegal cigarette trafficking. DFA Secretary Jim Hudson backed Minner, saying that the department is proud to work with other state agencies to seize illegal cigarettes.

“DFA is proud of the work of our Regulatory Enforcement team, which consists of fully certified law enforcement officers,” Hudson said.

“Through strong relationships with other law enforcement agencies, the Regulatory Enforcement Team has seized illegal cigarettes worth more than $550,000 in a matter of months.”

Tobacco Control is a part of the DFA’s Regulatory Team. It was established in 1997 to regulate the sale of tobacco in Arkansas.