Officers from the Benton Police Department made 18 DWI arrests during the February “Be Someone’s Sweetheart and Rethink Your Drink” initiative to keep intoxicated drivers off the city streets. Five of those arrests were made on the last weekend of the month.
Though the initiative is over, officers will continually search for and arrest intoxicated drivers. Every year, more than 10,322 people are killed by drunk drivers in America, and in Arkansas in 2013, of the 499 fatality accidents 41 percent – 203 fatality accidents - involved alcohol and/or drugs (Arkansas Highway Safety Office).
The only way to truly avoid a DWI is to drive sober. There are many ways to get home safely after drinking, and driving isn’t one of them. Designate a sober driver ahead of time, call a friend or family member, or call a taxi. The cost of cab fare is nothing compared to a DWI charge or the cost of someone’s life.
Those arrested during the “Be Someone’s Sweetheart and Rethink Your Drink” initiative for suspicion of driving intoxicated were:
• Bernard Eldridge, 55, of Little Rock – At approximately 1:15 a.m. Feb. 28, officers conducted a traffic stop for swerving on Alcoa Road when the odor of intoxicants was noticed on the driver, Eldridge, and he reportedly registered a 0.21 percent blood-alcohol content level. Eldridge was taken into custody and faces charges of DWI, Possession of Marijuana, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Drinking in Public, and Careless and Prohibited Driving.
• Danielle Powell, 28, of Benton – During a traffic stop at approximately 12:53 a.m. Feb. 27, officers noticed the odor of intoxicants and Powell, the driver, registered a 0.18 percent blood-alcohol content level. Powell was taken into custody and faces a charge of DWI.
• Jay Richard Stephens, 26, of Bryant – Officers responded to a single vehicle accident near the I-30 eastbound 121 exit ramp at approximately 2:32 a.m. Feb. 27, when Stephens was located and was observed with the odor of intoxicants. Stephens reportedly registered a 0.189 percent blood-alcohol content level. Stephens was taken into custody and faces charge of DWI.
• James Tyrone Goss, 49, of Little Rock – During a traffic stop at approximately 11:07 p.m. Feb. 27, officers noticed the odor of intoxicants and the driver, Goss, registered a 0.172 percent blood-alcohol content level. Goss was taken into custody and faces charges of DWI, Driving on a Suspended Driver’s License, No Proof of Insurance, Fictitious Tags, and Failure to Maintain Lane.
• Jeffrey Stewart, 49, of Little Rock – During a traffic stop on I-30 at approximately 8:41 p.m. Feb. 26, officers reportedly noticed the odor of intoxicants on the driver, Stewart. Stewart reportedly registered a 0.12 percent blood-alcohol content level and he faces a charge of DWI.
• Don Allen Tilton, 71, of Little Rock – Officers conducted a traffic stop on I-30 near the 122 mile marker at approximately 11:56 p.m. Feb. 24 and the driver, Tilton, reportedly registered a 0.087 blood-alcohol content level. Tilton was taken into custody and faces a charge of DWI.
• Hayley Wilfong Helsham, 23, of Benton – At approximately 9:33 p.m. Feb. 8, dispatch received calls of a possibly intoxicated driver at the I-30 exit 114 McDonalds location. Officers made contact with the driver, Helsham, who reportedly registered a 0.124 percent blood-alcohol content level. Helsham was taken into custody and faces a charge of DWI.
• Jessie Lee Knight, 58, of Benton – At approximately 1:21 p.m. Feb. 13, officers conducted a traffic stop at Edison and Cox for failure to stop at a stop sign. Officers noticed the odor of alcohol and a beer can in open view. Knight, the driver, reportedly registered a 0.119 percent blood-alcohol content level. Knight was taken into custody and faces charges of DWI and Driving on a Suspended Driver’s License.
• Kenneth Kendrick, 51, of Bauxite – During a traffic stop at approximately 12:30 a.m. Feb. 14 on South Highway 5, officers noticed the odor of intoxicants from the driver, Kendrick. After a standardized field sobriety test, Kendrick reportedly registered a 0.14 percent blood-alcohol content level. Kendrick was taken into custody and faces charges of DWI, Driving on a Suspended Driver’s License, and Unsafe Driving.
• John A. Smith, 48, of Haskell – At approximately 7:23 a.m. Feb. 16, officers responded to a two vehicle accident with injury on Congo Road. Smith reportedly first denied driving one of the vehicles, but later admitted to being a driver. A witness told officers that a black pouch was thrown into the bushes near the wrecked vehicles. Officers located the bag and found it contained a set of digital scales and two baggies with 21.1 grams of suspected methamphetamine. Smith was taken into custody and faces charges of felony Possession of a Controlled Substance with Intent to Distribute, felony Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, DWI, Refusal to Submit to Chemical Testing, and Careless and Prohibited Driving.
• Cynthia Ramirez, 51, of Hot Springs – During a traffic stop on Military Road at approximately 9:49 p.m. Feb. 16, officers noticed the odor of intoxicants on the driver, Ramirez, as well as open beer containers and suspected marijuana in open view. During a search of the vehicle, officers seized 7.7 grams of suspected marijuana and drug paraphernalia. Ramirez was taken into custody and later registered a 0.09 percent blood-alcohol content level. Ramirez faces charges of DWI and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. A passenger, 55-year-old Thomas Paul Harrison of Benton was also taken into custody and faces charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance (marijuana) and Drinking in Public.
• Camron F. Traylor, 43, of Benton – At approximately 9:37 p.m. Feb. 7, a traffic stop was conducted on Arkansas Highway 35 when the odor of intoxicants was noticed. The driver, Traylor, admitted to drinking before driving and registered a 0.14 percent blood-alcohol content level. Traylor was taken into custody and faces a charge of DWI.
• Annie Erin Beason, 35, of Donaldson – At approximately 1:11 a.m. Feb. 7, a traffic stop was conducted on the I-30 north service road when the odor of intoxicants was noticed. The driver, Beason, admitted to drinking before driving and she registered a 0.165 percent blood-alcohol content level. Beason was taken into custody and faces charges of DWI and Careless and Prohibited Driving.
• Stacy G. Young, 50, of Benton – At approximately 12:57 a.m. Feb. 7, officers conducted a traffic stop on the I-30 south service road when the odor of intoxicants was noticed. The driver, Young, admitted to drinking before driving, but refused to take a blood-alcohol breath test. Young was taken into custody and faces charges of DWI and Refusal to Submit to Test.
• Robert Illing, 31, of Benton – At approximately 3:09 a.m. Feb. 6, officers conducted a traffic stop on Congo Road when the odor of intoxicants was noticed. The driver, Illing, admitted to drinking before driving and registered a 0.10 percent blood alcohol content level. Illing was taken into custody and faces charges of DWI and No Vehicle License.
• Dorinda D. Parks, 41, of Haskell – At approximately 3:20 a.m. Feb. 3, officers working DWI taskforce stopped a vehicle and noticed suspected marijuana on the clothing of passenger 42-year-old Douglas Arne Arnesen of Benton. During a search of the vehicle, officers seized suspected marijuana found in a cellophane wrapper, drug paraphernalia, three syringes with suspected methamphetamine residue and a partial suspected Xanax pill. Two suspected Hydrocodone pills were seized from a purse belonging to the driver, Parks. Parks was taken into custody and faces charges of DWI-drugs, Possession of a Controlled II Substance, Possession of a Controlled IV Substance, two counts of Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and a citation for defective brake light. Arnesen was taken into custody and faces charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance (Marijuana) and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.
• Terry L. Dempsey, 50, of Traskwood – At approximately 11:49 p.m. Feb. 2, officers responded to a vehicle accident in the westbound lane of Interstate 30 near the 116 exit. The odor of intoxicants was noticed from the driver, Dempsey. Dempsey registered a 0.202 percent blood-alcohol content level. Officers also found a pipe containing suspected marijuana inside the vehicle Dempsey was driving. Dempsey was transported to the Saline County Detention Center and faces charges of DWI, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Reckless Driving.
To report suspicious driving and/or accidents, call the Benton Police Department at 501-778-1171 or 501-315-TIPS. Individuals also may send us anonymous information to CRIMES (274637) with the keyword BNPD in the body of the text or go to www.crimereports.com to leave a tip. A crime tip can also be submitted via the official Benton Police Department app found on ITunes and Google Play.
Any suspects listed are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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