Woman allegedly stole flowers from cemetery and is arrested for drug offenses

A woman who witnesses said stole flowers from a local cemetery was arrested on drug charges Wednesday morning after Hot Springs police allegedly found meth in her purse.

Heather Justine Simons, 34, of Potter Street, was taken into custody shortly after 8 a.m. and charged with possession of a controlled substance, meth, a crime punishable by up to six years in prison. She also had a warrant out for failure to appear.

Simons, who has no prior criminal record, was held on $3,500 bail and is scheduled to appear in Garland County District Court today.

According to the probable cause affidavit, HSPD Officer 1st Class Tyler Barrett responded to Friendship Cemetery at 320 Hollywood Avenue shortly after 7:30 a.m. There, he became aware of a “suspicious” white female who was observed approaching various graves and stealing flowers.

The woman was described as having blonde hair, wearing “short shorts” and a pink shirt. He found a woman, later identified as Simons, who matched the description, standing in front of a grave.

Simons reportedly told Barrett she was “admiring the graves.” A computer check revealed a warrant for her arrest, and she was taken into custody. During the search, officers allegedly found a small package in her purse that contained 1.1 grams of meth, which was later determined to be meth.