A reportedly homeless person already in jail on other charges was served with multiple felony warrants Tuesday stemming from allegations he broke into vehicles and a storage building at a local pest control company last month.
Rodney Dewayne Pickney, 46, whose address was listed as “city streets” on the inmate roster, was arrested July 29 on misdemeanor charges of disorderly conduct, public intoxication and failure to appear and was sentenced to 90 days in jail after pleading guilty in Garland County District Court.
On Tuesday, shortly before 9 a.m., he was served with warrants for theft of property over $5,000, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, breaking or entering and first-degree criminal mischief, each punishable by up to six years. He is set to appear Oct. 6 in district court on the new charges with a bond set at $15,000.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on the morning of July 21, Hot Springs police Officer James Yerina responded to Advanced Pest Control, 601 Hobson Ave., regarding a break-in that had occurred.
The manager stated that between 6 p.m. on July 20 and 7 a.m. on July 21, two unknown suspects broke into two business vehicles and a storage building behind the business. The suspects took several tools and equipment valued at approximately $6,451. Damages to the shop and vehicles which included broken locks, a bent garage door, broken toolboxes and a dent in one of the vehicles was estimated at $3,000.
In reviewing security video footage provided by the owners of the business, Detective Shawn Stone observed two Black males enter the storage building and begin removing tools and equipment. One of the men was allegedly identified as Pickney after his arrest on July 29.
According to court records, Pickney was convicted on Sept. 19, 2008, of breaking or entering and theft by receiving and sentenced to six years in prison, but later paroled; and on Oct. 9, 2013, of commercial burglary and sentenced to nine years in prison, but later paroled, all in Garland County.