By Ray King
A Pine Bluff man currently on parole was arrested Tuesday after he fled from law enforcement officers in the Dollarway area driving a stolen truck.
Joshua Schmall, 33, allegedly admitted stealing the truck, which was valued at $10,000 in Little Rock on Monday and also allegedly admitted fleeing from police.
During a court hearing Thursday, Deputy Prosecutor Beth Carson said White Hall Police Maj. Mickey Buffkin was on patrol and received a call from an individual who reported that a white male, later identified as Schmall, was at a business at the Martha Mitchell Expressway and Hutchinson Street trying to sell stolen items from the back of a truck.
White Hall Police Investigator Clayton Cantrell reported that damage to the property that Schmall drove through was estimated at $3,000.
Carson said Schmall has prior convictions, primarily for theft-related crimes, theft by receiving, and theft of property.
Jefferson County District Judge Kim Bridgforth set a $15,000 bond for Schmall after ruling prosecutors have probable cause to charge him with theft by receiving and fleeing. She also told Schmall that the Department of Community Corrections has placed a hold on him for violating the conditions of his parole and he will be held without bond until a hearing on his parole status is held.
He was told to come back to court on March 22.
