A 17-year-old from Pine Bluff and an 18-year-old woman from Benton were taken into custody Tuesday after fleeing into the woods with an AR-15 rifle following a vehicle accident near Highway 367 and Highway 305 in Austin, according to the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office.
Sheriff John Staley said the incident began when the suspects fled on foot after the crash. K9 units from the Lonoke County Sheriff’s Office and Cabot Police Department conducted tracks and located both suspects following an extensive search of the area.
Authorities identified the suspects as a 17-year-old black male from Pine Bluff and 18-year-old white female, Karma Young, of Benton. Both were arrested without further incident. The male has not been named due to being a juvenile.
Staley thanked the Cabot Police Department, Austin Police Department, and Arkansas State Police for their assistance in the search and apprehension.
“There is no longer any threat to the public,” Staley said. “Thank you to everyone who remained alert, shared information, and allowed officers to work safely. Your cooperation helped bring this situation to a safe and successful conclusion.”
The investigation remains ongoing, and additional information will be released as it becomes available.
