INVESTIGATION LEADS TO POPLAR BLUFF MAN’S ARREST ON ARSON CHARGEA Poplar Bluff man is facing an arson charge in connection to a fire on Sunday.
Detective Andy Cleaveland with the Poplar Bluff Police Department tells us more about the arrest.
ANDY CLEAVELAND:
On Sunday around noon, officers from The Poplar Bluff Police Department and the Poplar Bluff Fire Department respond to a fire on North 10th Street. Upon arrival officers determined that the fire was suspicious in nature. The Investigation was completed by Poplar Bluff Police Department and the Missouri State Fire Marshal's Office. The investigation indicated that it was possibly arson. It was further investigated and through the course of the investigation a suspect who has been identified as Christopher Ward of Poplar Bluff, 31 years old, was identified as being the suspect in the arson. We have several statements made by persons there at the scene and also in the interview with Mr. Ward that information was gathered indicating that he had set the fire. There were two children there at the residence. One was 3 years old and one was a year old. These are the children of Mr. Ward’s girlfriend who also resided there at the residence. The investigation led us to have the understanding that the apartment was being rented by Mr. Ward and the investigation also indicated that the children were residing at the house along with Mr. Ward's girlfriend. There was some issues indicating that the reason why the fire had been set was evidently the victim had been involved in a domestic dispute with Mr. Ward and his girlfriend and he became angered over this issue. Mr. Ward was charged with arson in the first degree and two counts of endangering the welfare of a child.
Cleaveland would go on to add, that Ward’s bond has been set at $50,000.
HAYTI HEIGHTS MAN DIES FROM INJURIES RECEIVED WHEN HE WAS HIT BY A VEHICLE A Hayti Heights man has died from injuries he received when he was hit by a vehicle over the weekend.
According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, 47 year old Eldon Green was hit by the vehicle Sunday night while he was laying on First Street in Hayti Heights.
Green was taken to a Memphis hospital, where he passed away on Monday.
PIPE BOMBS FOUND AND DETONATED IN NORTHEAST ARKANSAS Three pipe bombs were safely detonated Monday in Northeast Arkansas.
The bombs were found near an intersection in Paragould.
Greene County Sheriff David Carter tells us that the bombs were taken to a rural location where they were detonated by the Arkansas State Police Bomb Squad.
An investigation into the bombs is being conducted and Carter says that they believe this to be an isolated incident and there is no other danger.
SEARCH WARRANT LEADS TO DRUG BUST IN CORNING Four people have been taken into custody following the execution of a search warrant last week at a residence in Corning.
According to Clay County Sheriff Terry Miller, during the search officers found a substantial amount of drugs which field tested positive for methamphetamine. Officials also found several items of drug paraphernalia, a small amount of Marijuana, and several firearms.
Miller says that four Corning residents were arrested on numerous charges, 47 year old Kevin Hensley, 47 year old Mary Hensley, 31 year old Daniel Jackson, and 25 year old Shaman Stevens.
PEDESTRIAN STRUCK BY MULTIPLE VEHICLES NEAR SIKESTON A Morehouse man has died following an incident Monday morning near Sikeston.
According to the Sikeston Department of Public Safety, 29 year old James Hopper was walking along US 60, near Keystone, at around 5:45 am Monday when he was struck by multiple vehicles.
One of the drivers of the vehicles was taken to a local hospital with lacerations from broken glass.
Sikeston officials say the incident is under investigation.
NATIONAL MASS CARE EXERCISE HELD MONDAY IN POPLAR BLUFF Officials in Poplar Bluff got some hands on training yesterday on what to do in case of a disaster.
We spoke with Executive Director of the American Red Cross, Sara Geau, about the exercise.
SARA GEAU:
This is the National Mass Care Exercise and this is where all the partners and agencies come together to really figure out what we would do in case of a huge disaster such as an earthquake. So we're doing a 7.8 earthquake on the New Madrid fault and this is really how we get to see what's going to happen during that day, we all hands on deck and we figure out how we're going to be able to take care of our clients and where to get them. They're going to coming in on mass transit, on buses and they're going to be injured and they're going to have individuals that are not with their family members. They are trying to get back to their family members to let them know that they're ok, different things like that. We're thrilled with the number of the turnout today of everyone coming in. It's just so important that we get the community involved so that we have not just the agencies and the partner groups, but you know our community that comes out and they figure out and learn what to do during the time of disaster and when these occurrences happen. So we're thrilled that we got this number of individuals. We’ve got students here today which I think is fantastic, you know playing the victims and going through the exercise as well.
The Missouri Department of Public Safety says that additional exercises will be held throughout the state of Missouri this week.
BRIDGE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULED FOR THIS WEEK IN RIPLEY COUNTY Route 21 in Ripley County is being reduced to one lane through Thursday so Missouri Department of Transportation crews can perform bridge maintenance.
The bridge is located between Route 142 and Route A over Powder Creek.
Weather permitting, work will take place from 8 am to 3 pm daily through Thursday.
