Arkansas State Police crime releases for the week of April 26-May 2, 2025.
ASP ARRESTS HOUSTON MAN AFTER ROAD RAGE SHOOTING ON I-40 IN LONOKE COUNTY
April 28, 2025
LONOKE, Ark. — On Saturday, April 26, 2025, at approximately 11:45 a.m. Arkansas State Police (ASP) Troopers responded to a road rage incident involving gunfire on Interstate 40 westbound near the 175-mile marker in Lonoke County.
The victim reported that a black Cadillac sedan with Texas license plates pulled alongside his vehicle, and the driver fired a weapon at him. After briefly leaving the roadway, the victim managed to maintain control of his vehicle. He was not injured and his vehicle was not struck by gunfire.
At around 1:45 p.m., ASP Troopers located the suspect vehicle traveling westbound on I-30 near Prescott and conducted a traffic stop near Hope.
The passenger, identified as Michael Evans, 35, of Houston, Texas, was charged with Committing a Terroristic Act, Unlawful Discharge of a Firearm from a Vehicle, Aggravated Assault, and Endangering the Welfare of a Minor.
Two semi-automatic pistols were found and seized from the rear floorboard of the Cadillac. It was also discovered that a juvenile was present in the suspect vehicle during the incident.Evans was transported to the Lonoke County Detention Center.
April 30, 2025
JACKSONVILLE MAN ARRESTED
IN DECADE-LONG MULTI STATE BURGLARY SPREE
JACKSONVILLE, Ark. — On Tuesday, April 29, 2025, Arkansas State Police (ASP) Criminal Investigation Division (CID) Special Agents, in cooperation with the Wapello County Sheriff’s Office (Iowa) and Lewis County Sheriff’s Office (Missouri), executed two residential search warrants in Jacksonville and Sherwood. These warrants were part of a multi-state investigation into a decade-long series of commercial burglaries.
Curtis Lee Barton, 40, of Jacksonville, was identified as the suspect in over 30 commercial burglaries in northern Missouri and southern Iowa. CID agents contacted Barton at his Jacksonville residence and found evidence he used in the commission of the crimes.
Lewis County Sheriff’s Office served Barton with an arrest warrant for five offenses, including Burglary, Theft, and Property Damage.
ASP Troopers transported Barton to the Pulaski County Detention Center, where he was booked on an arrest warrant from Lewis County, Missouri. Barton is also a parolee out of Missouri for commercial burglary.
May 2, 2025
JONESBORO MAN ARRESTED FOLLOWING CYBER TIP
JONESBORO, Ark. — On Thursday, May 1, 2025, Special Agents with the Arkansas State Police (ASP) Criminal Investigation Division (CID) arrested Jeffery Scott Ladyman, 42, of Jonesboro, on felony charges of Sexual Indecency with a Child.
An investigation was prompted by a November 2024 tip to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC).
Ladyman turned himself into ASP Troop C Headquarters in Jonesboro on Thursday, May 1, 2025, around 2:30 p.m. ASP Agents transported him to the Craighead County Detention Center.
May 2, 2025
ASP CID INVESTIGATING
OFFICER-INVOLVED FATALITY SHOOTING IN EUREKA SPRINGS
EUREKA SPRINGS, Ark. — The Carroll County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) has requested the Arkansas State Police (ASP) Criminal Investigation Division (CID) to assist with an officer-involved shooting that occurred on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at about 11:15 a.m. in the 13000 block of Highway 187 in Eureka Springs.
The Tri-City SWAT, comprised of officers from Berryville Police, Eureka Springs Police, and Green Forest Police, was serving a search warrant and an arrest warrant for Jeremy Coyle, 44, of Eureka Springs, related to sexual assault charges.
SWAT officers contacted Coyle and attempted to have him exit his residence. When he did not comply, they entered the home and reported that they found him with a firearm. Witnesses said Coyle pointed the weapon at officers, prompting an officer to fire his service weapon, striking Coyle.
Coyle was pronounced dead at the scene after paramedics rendered emergency medical treatment.
The deceased will be transported to the Arkansas State Crime Lab, where official manner and cause of death will be determined.
ASP CID Special Agents will prepare an investigative file to be submitted to the Carroll County Prosecutor, who will determine whether the lethal use of force was consistent with Arkansas law.
