A Hot Springs woman was arrested Thursday night on a felony assault charge after allegedly pointing what later turned out to be a BB gun at a local man and woman during a confrontation.
Hayley Renhea Hollingsworth, 26, of 214 Texas St., was taken into custody at her residence shortly before 8:30 p.m. and charged with aggravated assault, punishable by up to six years in prison.
She was later released on $2,500 bond and is set to appear May 17 in Garland County District Court.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 7 p.m. Thursday, Hot Springs police Officer 1st Class Tifani McCauley responded to the corner of Spring and Illinois streets regarding an assault with a firearm and made contact with a man who stated he had been in an argument with the mother of his child and a known suspect, identified as Hollingsworth, outside the residence at 214 Texas St. when he came there to pick up his child.
He said he had left, but returned a second time and pulled up in front of the residence. He said he and his girlfriend were seated in his vehicle when they saw Hollingsworth run to some nearby bushes and retrieve a handgun which she pointed at both of them while walking toward them and yelling for them to get off her property.
Officers went to the residence and made contact with Hollingsworth and the other woman. While talking to Hollingsworth, she reached for her waistband and revealed a black handgun. She accidentally dropped it at one point and Cpl. Eric Roberson ordered her to step away from it and she reportedly said it was only a BB gun, which Roberson verified.
It was determined the BB gun was empty and Hollingsworth said it didn't function, but McCauley noted it was solid black with no markings to indicate it was a BB gun.
Hollingsworth was taken into custody and when questioned she denied pointing the BB gun at anyone. She said the alleged victim had a history of violence toward the mother of his child and she believed he would attempt to use physical violence to remove the child from the home.
She said she feared for her friend's safety and admitted she "cocked the gun" and held it at her waistline pointed toward the ground while she demanded the victim leave the property.
Local on 04/11/2020