By Ray King
Two people were arrested Friday after they allegedly broke into an apartment and beat up the occupant.
Thomas Harris, 22, and Ladasia Lawrence, 21, were taken into custody after the victim told police where they could be located.
During a court hearing Monday, Deputy Prosecutor Beth Carson said an officer was sent to an apartment on Linden Street at about 10 p.m. Thursday where the victim said three people broke into her apartment and beat her up.
Carson said Detective Jason Boykin arrived at the scene and took a recorded statement from the victim and Carson explained what the statement said.
When Harris was interviewed, he said he had been trying to get his stuff out of the apartment for several weeks and went to the apartment after being told what to do by a police officer. He initially said the door was open but then admitted he removed the screen from the window, went inside, and opened the door for Lawrence and her sister.
Lawrence said she went to the apartment the first time a few hours earlier and said police told her it was a civil matter. She said she came back and the door was open. She said the victim swung at her and she hit her back while Harris got the TV.
Pine Bluff District Judge John Kearney set a bond of $25,000 for Harris and Lawrence after ruling prosecutors have probable cause to charge them with residential burglary. They were ordered to have no contact with the victim and said they would hire their own attorneys.
