A Hot Springs woman was arrested early Wednesday after allegedly assaulting and chasing a pregnant woman and later fleeing from Hot Springs police with her 1-year-old child in the vehicle.
Brionna Reshae Johnson, 22, who lists a Carl Drive address, was taken into custody shortly before 2 a.m. and charged with a felony count of first-degree endangering the welfare of a minor, punishable by up to six years in prison, and misdemeanor counts of third-degree battery, fleeing in a vehicle, theft of property, obstructing government operations, possession of a controlled substance, marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
Johnson, who also had warrants for three counts of failure to appear, was being held on zero bond and is set to appear May 12 in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly before 1:30 a.m. Wednesday, Officer 1st Class Tifani McCauley responded to the 100 block of Kaywood Place regarding a battery and spoke to the female victim who stated she had come to that residence at the request of her child's father around 1 a.m.
She said she turned to see a known person, identified as Johnson, "walking toward her aggressively and yelling." She said she was afraid so she ran west, but Johnson chased her and shoved her to the ground directly on her stomach. The victim noted she is pregnant and tried to "roll quickly to her left side."
The victim said she felt Johnson get on top of her and begin striking her in the back of her head. At one point, the victim dropped her cellphone and rolled onto her back. Johnson allegedly hit her several times on the top of her head with the phone before the victim was able to get to her feet and run to her vehicle.
Johnson reportedly caught up to her again and began punching her in the face and head before she was able to get away. The victim noted Johnson did not return her cellphone, valued at $800.
McCauley spoke to the victim again as she was being treated in the emergency room at National Park Medical Center and noted she had sustained bruises, swelling and scratches on both arms and bruising in the center of her lower back.
About 20 minutes later, Sgt. Richard Hawkins spotted a Ford Mustang, believed to be Johnson's vehicle, in the area of Higdon Ferry Road and Central Avenue and followed it as it turned onto Central and headed north. It continued to Trivista Right where Hawkins activated his lights and siren to make a traffic stop.
The driver, later confirmed to be Johnson, allegedly refused to stop and continued to Talisman Street, Hollywood Avenue, Mote Street, Lowery Street, Malvern Avenue, Cones Road, Pauline Street, Eddiemee Street, and then circled back around through multiple other streets until she got to the intersection of Castleton and Oma streets where a black male passenger jumped out and fled, running through residential yards in the area where he could not be located.
Johnson continued on Castleton before finally coming to a stop where officers ordered her out of the car and took her into custody without further incident. Johnson initially refused to give her name or any other information to officers.
She told officers her child was in the vehicle and officers located a 1-year-old in the back seat unrestrained. The child was taken into protective custody by the Department of Human Services.
During an inventory of the car, officers reportedly located 0.4 grams of marijuana and digital scales.
Local on 04/02/2020