Last week, local law enforcement officers found themselves embroiled in a peculiar series of events involving trespassing, a false shooting report, and a surprising arrest. The incident unfolded in the quiet Highland Park neighborhood, leaving residents astonished and authorities with a complex situation to resolve.
The saga began when the owner of a vacant house in Highland Park reported unauthorized individuals repeatedly trespassing on her property. She had been in the midst of renovating the house when she noticed a man and a woman, later identified as Joseph Denton and April Collvins, repeatedly entering the premises when nobody was present.
When officers arrived at the scene in response to the owner’s call, they encountered Joseph Denton on the property. Denton initially claimed he had permission from the owner to take items from the carport. However, his story quickly unraveled when the owner herself disputed his claims, stating that she had never given anyone permission to take anything from her property. It became evident that Denton had no legitimate reason to be on the premises, leading to his immediate arrest.
The situation took an unexpected turn when a 911 call was made to Texarkana Arkansas Police, reporting a shooting incident at a Walmart on North Stateline. The caller alleged they had been shot and that the assailant was returning to the scene. Responding officers and an ambulance rushed to the Walmart location, only to find no evidence of a shooting incident.
What makes this seemingly unrelated incident pertinent to the story is that the 911 call’s origin was traced back to the same vacant house in Highland Park. The caller was identified as April Collvins, who was at the property while Denton was being arrested. Collvins had apparently hoped that making the false emergency call would divert police attention from the house, allowing her to evade arrest. However, her plan backfired spectacularly when officers discovered her hiding in the attic of the property.
Both Denton and Collvins were subsequently transported to the Bi-State Jail and booked on charges related to their actions. Denton faces charges of Criminal Trespass and Possession of a Controlled Substance, with his bond set at $13,000. Collvins faces charges of Criminal Trespass and Communicating a False Report, with a total bond of $6,000.
As of the latest update, both individuals remain in custody, and their unusual escapade serves as a reminder that attempting to evade the law can often lead to more severe consequences. The Highland Park neighborhood can now breathe a sigh of relief knowing that these trespassers have been taken into custody, and the vacant house is secure once again.
Via TTPD:
Joseph Denton was arrested for Criminal Trespass and Possession of a Controlled Substance.April Collvins was arrested for Criminal Trespass and Communicating a False Report.
After more than 40 years with commercial broadcasting, I decided to do my own thing by blogging, and taking "unconsultant" gigs. It affords me the ability to stay super involved in the community, but still, have plenty of time with my 3 granddaughters and other projects.
