A reportedly homeless man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly trying to pass a counterfeit $20 bill at a local grocery store and then fighting with Hot Springs police who reportedly found drugs on him.
Maurice Cratell Parker, 35, who lists "city streets" as his address, was taken into custody shortly before noon and charged with felony counts of second-degree forgery, punishable by up to 20 years in prison, and possession of a controlled substance, meth, punishable by up to six years, and misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest and possession of drug paraphernalia. He also had a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear.
Parker was being held on a $10,500 bond and was set to appear Wednesday in Garland County District Court. According to court records, he was convicted of a felony count of possession of meth on Dec. 29, 2023, and sentenced to five years in prison, all suspended, and on July 9 of misdemeanor theft of property and sentenced to one year in jail, all suspended.
According to the probable cause affidavit, shortly after 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, HSPD Officer Anthony Montano responded to Cash Saver Food Outlet, 800 Malvern Ave., regarding a possible fraud.
Dispatchers told him the Black male suspect in the incident was headed toward Walgreens, 159 E. Grand Ave., and gave a description of him. Officers made contact with Parker in the 600 block of Malvern and detained him as Montano went to Cash Saver and spoke to the store's manager.
The manager stated Parker had attempted to purchase merchandise with a counterfeit $20 bill, but the transaction "did not go through." A computer check showed the failure to appear warrant so officers attempted to take him into custody, but he allegedly began to resist.
As they struggled on the ground, one officer reportedly suffered a laceration to his left elbow, a scrape on his right arm and a bruise to his right knee and another officer sustained a laceration to his right shoulder.
In searching Parker, officers allegedly found a glass pipe with residue, believed to be used for smoking meth, and a baggie with 0.4 grams of what later field tested positive for meth.
Detective Chris Savage later interviewed Parker who allegedly admitted to attempting to pass a counterfeit bill at the store. He said he fled when the store employee stated she was going to call law enforcement.