By Ray King
A $150,000 bond was set Tuesday for a Pine Bluff man accused of being involved in a vehicle chase and firing shots at the other vehicle during the chase.
Jefferson County District Judge Kim Bridgforth set the bond after ruling prosecutors have probable cause to charge Joshua Battles. 32, with terroristic threatening, committing a terroristic act, aggravated assault, and being a felon in possession of a firearm.
During the court hearing, Deputy Prosecutor Lisa McGriff said Battles has eight prior felony convictions.
She said on March 5 at 1:50 p.m., a detective was at the central station on State Street when she heard loud honking from a vehicle and saw a red vehicle and a white vehicle that was traveling at a high rate of speed.
Moments later, police dispatchers reported a rolling disturbance involving a red vehicle and a white vehicle at Harding Avenue and Olive Street and the detective told dispatch the cars had just passed the central station.
McGriff said Battles had a small amount of a green leafy substance that had the odor of marijuana in his hands and both cars were towed to the crime scene office. The red vehicle had been involved in an accident and there was a bullet hole in the driver’s side.
A second victim who was Battles’ former girlfriend said she he tried to hit her and she kicked at him. She said he took her phone and threw it at her and said he then pulled a gun. She said she had seen the gun before when the two of them dated.
When Battles was interviewed, he said he would not have chased the red vehicle if the female had gotten out of the vehicle.
Battles were ordered to have no contact with the victim until the case is settled.
