A felon arrested for drunk driving faces felony charges after a weapon is found

A Malvern felon who was initially arrested for drunken driving on Tuesday after being cornered by a witness soon found himself facing felony charges after a weapon was allegedly found in his vehicle.

James Dandre Beasley, 51, who reportedly has a previous conviction for theft in 1997, was arrested shortly after 3 a.m. Tuesday. He was charged with aggravated possession of a weapon by certain persons, which carries a sentence of up to six years in prison, as well as misdemeanors of driving while intoxicated (first offense) and obstruction of governmental operations. He was also charged with failing to submit to a breath test.

Beasley pleaded not guilty to all charges in Garland County District Court on Wednesday and was later released on $4,000 bail. A felony review hearing is scheduled for Aug. 16. A criminal history check reportedly revealed that Beasley was charged with drunken driving on Nov. 17, 2022, and May 10, 2023, in Okaloosa County, Florida. However, he was never convicted because he failed to appear in court despite warrants out for his arrest, so his drunken driving arrest on Tuesday is considered a first offense.

According to the probable cause affidavit, Hot Springs police were dispatched to the Dodge Store, 640 E. Grand Ave., around 3 a.m. Tuesday for a report of an alleged drunken driver. They found a silver Lexus pinned by a silver SUV and saw a black man, later identified as Beasley, walking away from the scene toward East Grand.

The affidavit states that there were several cars on the street and in the parking lot and that Beasley “appeared to be oblivious to traffic” as he walked toward the street and then east on the sidewalk.

The driver of the SUV pointed at Beasley, and as officers approached him, he continued walking, allegedly refusing to stop despite officers’ commands. They noticed he was unsteady on his feet and slurred his speech.

Eventually he was taken into custody and reportedly still refused to comply with officers’ orders. Officers also noticed that he smelled strongly of drugs and had bloodshot, watery eyes. They reportedly found the keys to his Lexus in his pocket.

Beasley initially refused to give his full name, saying he had “just come to get something to drink and eat” from the store and was on his way home, but would not say where his home was. It turned out the Lexus was registered to someone else, and officers eventually found Beasley’s driver’s license and were able to positively identify him.

Officers spoke with the SUV driver and a store employee who stated he saw Beasley pull up and park and noticed he was intoxicated when he arrived. The SUV driver tried to stop him from driving away and he and Beasley began arguing. When police arrived, Beasley exited his car and walked away.

Using the store’s video surveillance, employees were able to confirm when Beasley arrived and that he had not consumed any alcohol or anything in the store and that, as far as his intoxicated state was concerned, he “arrived that way.”

Beasley was asked several times at the scene to provide a breath sample, but he reportedly refused and “continued to be confrontational,” continually asking why he was being arrested and “constantly seeming to forget” how police officers had responded.

While inspecting the Lexus before towing it, officers reportedly found a High Point 9mm pistol in a black bag in the back seat, as well as several magazines. Upon arrival at the detention center, Beasley reportedly continued to be confrontational with staff and was eventually placed in a holding cell.

When told his gun would be kept at HSPD, Beasley reportedly said “OK.” He was again asked to provide a breath sample, but continued to refuse, so he was charged with this additional violation.