Alexander Police release report on early morning arrest - UPDATE:

UPDATE: Feb. 4, 2023 - SEE BELOW

The following is a report from the Alexander Police Department’s Facebook page concerning a traffic stop, which resulted in a foot chase and eventual arrest.

“It has been brought to our attention that there was some misinformation posted this morning about a "raid" that was conducted in the Meadows Edge subdivision. Again, that is not correct and no "raid" was conducted. The following is the correct sequence of events that took place:

“On 2-3-23, K9 Officer Lavrinc observed a vehicle traveling south on Hwy 111. It was observed that this vehicle's license plate lights were not functioning. A traffic stop was initiated and the vehicle stopped next to a home in the 1000 block of Meadows Edge Dr. The odor of marijuana was observed upon contact with the occupants in the vehicle. The driver informed K9 Officer Lavrinc that his license was suspended. The passenger informed K9 Officer Lavrinc that he had a permit only and both provided information to identify themselves. After receiving information from dispatch and further information into the criminal history of the passenger, a backup unit was requested from Shannon Hills PD. The driver was requested out of the vehicle due to the odor of marijuana. The driver stated that there was no marijuana in the vehicle. The passenger was then requested out of the vehicle. As the passenger exited, he turned and fled from the stop down Meadows Edge Dr. The passenger was pursued on foot. Taser deployment was attempted, but was unsuccessful. Sight was lost on the passenger and officers returned to the vehicle. Saline County Sheriff's Deputies and Bryant PD officers arrived to assist in searching the area for the passenger. The driver was placed into custody pending the search of the vehicle. A pistol was located under the driver's seat (round in the chamber and containing an extended magazine). Bryant PD tracked the pursuit to the home where suspect resided. A bag of marijuana was located during the pursuit of the fleeing passenger. The driver was then issued a citation for driving on a suspended license and the license plate light being out. Shannon Hills PD stood by with the driver and vehicle until a licensed driver could arrive on scene.

“K9 Officer Lavrinc then responded to the home of the passenger and received consent to search the residence for him from the homeowner (the passenger's mother). The mother showed officers to the suspect's bedroom where a box matching the firearm's serial number from the vehicle was located. K9 Officer Lavrinc radioed to the Shannon Hills unit to take possession of the firearm and transport it to him at the residence for it to be secured as evidence. The suspect was not located on scene.

“K9 Officer Lavrinc was then notified that a resident of Fern Valley Dr. observed a male matching the suspect's description walking past her residence and that he had been circling the area. Contact was made again with the mother who was able to pull up the suspect's location via an application on her phone. The suspect was now showing to be in the area of Buckthorn and Sage Grass. Officers searched the area and located the suspect who was then taken into custody. The suspect was read his Miranda rights and admitted to throwing the recovered marijuana and to the pistol being his. The suspect was taken into custody, transported to the Saline County Detention Center and charged with the following:

“Fleeing (A/M)

Possession of a Controlled Substance Sch VI Less Than 4oz (A/M)

Possession of Firearms by Certain Persons (B/F)

“Our department would like to thank the Officers from Shannon Hills PD and Bryant PD, and the Deputies from the Saline County Sheriff's Office that assisted on this call.”

Based on the above report it appears the house on Woodstream Dr. is the location of Friday morning’s police presence.

As of 2:55 PM the suspect has not been listed on the Saline County Sheriff’s website.

“The Alexandrian” apologizes for the earlier inaccurate reporting of this incident.

UPDATE: Feb. 4, 2023

The following information and mug shot was provided by the Saline County Sheriff’s Department.

CHRISTIAN STRONG

Booking #: 118582

Age: 22
Gender: M
Race: B
Address: ALEXANDER, AR

Arresting Agency: Alexander Police Department - Alexander - AR0600700

Booking Date: 02-03-2023 - 4:53 pm.

Charges:
FLEEING (ON FOOT) - MISDEMEANOR
POSSESS CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE SCH VI
POSSESSION OF FIREARMS BY CERTAIN PERSONS – FELONY

Bond: $5,000.00

Note: The charges and bail amounts may change after court appearances and may not be current. Bond companies and persons wishing to post bail should contact the Detention Center staff at 501.303.5642 for correct bail amount, charges and case numbers.