Paroled inmate arrested on warrant after foot chase in Hot Springs

HOT SPRINGS – A parolee who was wanted on a warrant after fleeing from Hot Springs police last month was arrested Wednesday after reportedly fleeing again and briefly hiding before eventually turning himself in.

Akeejae Cordell Bryant, 27, of Garland Avenue, was arrested shortly after 11:30 a.m. He was charged with felony counts of illegal possession of a controlled substance, meth and possession of a weapon by certain persons, each punishable by up to six years in prison, as well as two misdemeanor counts of fleeing on foot and failure to appear in court.

Bryant pleaded not guilty to all charges in Garland County District Court on Friday and is scheduled to have a felony review hearing on August 16. He remained in custody Friday afternoon without bail set.

According to court records, Bryant was sentenced to five years of supervised probation in 2017 for receiving stolen goods; on October 1, 2021, he was sentenced to five years in prison for possession of a firearm by certain persons and on October 28, 2021, for burglary, each to be served concurrently, but he was later paroled.

According to the probable cause affidavits in the warrants and Wednesday’s arrest, Hot Springs police Officer Austin Morphew and others responded to a disturbance at the Days Inn, 2208 Central Ave., near the vending machines, shortly after 2 a.m. on June 10.

Morphew saw a black man sitting on a bicycle with a backpack hanging from the handlebars, talking to a white woman near the vending machines. He reportedly recognized the man as Bryant from previous encounters and remembered him carrying the same backpack. A computer check confirmed he was a parolee with a warrant exemption.

Officers decided to arrest Bryant “due to his behavior and lack of compliance.” Morphew ordered him to face the wall, and Bryant reportedly began to resist when the officer attempted to handcuff him. Bryant was able to free himself and fled on foot while officers pursued him to the south side of the motel, where he climbed over a fence and escaped.

Officers returned to the bike and searched the backpack, which allegedly contained a .22 caliber H&R revolver with seven bullets, and also found an empty cartridge case. On June 24, a warrant was issued for Bryant’s arrest for escape and illegal possession of a firearm.

Just before 11 a.m. Wednesday, Officer 1st Class Dawson Guzman was patrolling the 800 block of Illinois Street when he spotted Bryant and, knowing there were warrants for his arrest, got out of his car and attempted to arrest him.

When he attempted to handcuff him, Bryant reportedly escaped and fled on foot while Guzman pursued him down Vernel Street toward Battle Place. Guzman drew his Taser and warned Bryant that he would shoot, but he continued to run. Guzman deployed his Taser, but the probes missed Bryant.

The pursuit continued as Bryant crossed Raymond Street and ran into the apartment complex at 1011 Illinois Street. Knowing Bryant had carried firearms in the past, Guzman said he “slowed his pace” and drew his gun, allowing Bryant to pass him. As he rounded the corner, witnesses pointed toward the apartment complex.

Guzman positioned himself at the back of the apartments as other officers arrived, set up a cordon, and called for Bryant. Within moments, Bryant emerged without further incident and was taken into custody.

He was taken to the Hot Springs Police Department and taken to an interview room where he was searched. A small package containing 0.5 grams of meth was allegedly found in his sock, which later tested positive for meth, leading to the additional charge.