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ALLEGED THIEF HELD AT GUNPOINT FOR POLICE

By Ray King/OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Monday, October 19, 2009 11:35 PM CDT

A Pine Bluff man who allegedly broke into a parked vehicle Saturday morning was on the ground when police arrived after a neighbor saw the incident and grabbed a shotgun to hold the man until officers got there.

During a court hearing Monday, Deputy Prosecutor Jill Reed said the neighbor saw Eddie Phelps, 36, break into the neighbor’s vehicle at 36th Avenue and Linden Street, called the neighbor, then went outside with the gun.

Reading from an affidavit from police Detective Michael Roberts, Reed said the victim reported that his wallet, watch, change and a lottery ticket were missing, and police found those items when they searched Phelps.

Reed said they also located another wallet and contacted the owner, who discovered that his vehicle had also been broken into, and the wallet and loose change were missing.

Circuit Judge Berlin Jones set a $5,000 bond for Phelps, who Reed said had no prior convictions in Arkansas, but a conviction from Michigan six years ago.

The judge ruled prosecutors had probable cause to charge Phelps with two counts of breaking or entering, two counts of theft of property, and one count of possession of drug paraphernalia because two push rods, which Reed said could be used to inject illegal substances, were found when Phelps was searched.

Phelps was also ordered to have no contact with the two victims, or with the neighbor who held the shotgun, until the case is settled.

Also Monday, the judge set a $10,000 bond for Bradley Thomas, 21, after ruling prosecutors had probable cause to charge Thomas with theft by receiving and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

Reed said police officers were on the parking lot of PJ’s Nightclub on North University Drive Saturday at 1:30 a.m., telling people to either go in or leave the lot when they saw a 1992 Buick Regal that had been reported stolen Oct. 1, and was valued at $2,200.

The detective reported that Thomas was driving the vehicle, and when police patted him down for officer safety, found a handgun in his right front pocket.

Reed said Thomas is on probation and in drug court stemming from cases in 2006 and 2008.

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