A call of “shots fired” came through the Monticello Police Department’s dispatch at approximately 1:00am on Monday.

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MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

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Around 5:20, Monday morning, this alligator, estimated to be approximately 6 ft. long, was found crossing HWY 277, near Tillar.

The gator’s presence prompted a phone call to the Monticello Police Dispatch, who sent a Drew County Sheriff’s deputy to the scene.

The gator was safely  taken into custody by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission.

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 MonticelloLive on Vimeo.

Another alligator, estimated to be 9 feet in length,  was captured by AG&F officers in May, while trying to cross HWY 165, south of Dermott, in the Lake Wallace area of Drew County.  Drew County Sheriff’s deputies were also present.

The video of the May alligator capture has been viewed over 2,000 times on MLive.

Captured alligators are generally re-located to an appropriate habitat, where they will not be around people.

The Sheriff’s Office is notifying the public that Terry Otter, a level 4 Registered Sex Offender (Sexually voilent preditor) has moved to 3062 Hwy 425 North. The offender was previously incarcerated.

Name: Terry Otter
Date of Birth: 05/23/1962
Address: 3062 Hwy 425 North

Charges: 2cts of Rape
Victim age: 17 and 21 (more…)

The Sheriff’s Office is notifying the public that Roy Densmore, a level 3 Registered Sex Offender (High Risk to re-offend) has moved to 128 Tara Grove. The offender was previously incarcerated.

Name: Roy Densmore
Date of Birth: 03/07/1952
Physical Address: 128 Tara Grove

The offender was convicted of Possession of Child Pornography in 2005.

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In the category of “not your everyday activity”, around 12 noon, an 18-wheeler dump truck, hauling “used chicken litter” caught fire as it was driving south on HWY 425 North.  The driver turned on HWY 278 East, unaware of the blaze that he was hauling.   The truck was pulled over by Monticello Police Officers, near Jordan Park.

Monticello Fire Dept. members quiclky arrived to extinguish the fire, which seemed to be contained to the cargo area of the big-rig.

Reports did not indicate if the cargo was damaged.

Photo and original info submitted  by a MLive reader.

Former Monticello Schools choir director, Michael Binns. Sr, passed away Sunday, at 4:38 pm.

Binns was convicted  by a Drew County Circuit Court jury on July 14 on 2 counts of 2nd degree sexual assault,  Binns was hospitalized at Baptist Health Center in Little Rock on Wednesday, July 20, before returning to the Drew County Detention Facility on Thursday, July 21, and being transferred to the Arkansas Dept. of Corrections on Friday, July 22.

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According to the Monticello Police Dept., an investigation is underway in the case of  the armed robbery of Monticello Western Sizzlin’, Friday night, around 10 pm.

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According to Lincoln County Sheriff Larry McGee, Tuesday evening, Lincoln County Deputy Hudson received a call reporting a reckless driver on HWY 425, north of Star City.  The caller gave a complete description of the vehicle, and it’s license plate number.

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Melvin LaRon James was sentenced by a Drew County Circuit Court jury Friday to serve 24 years for the robbery of EZ Mart, on the corner of Gaines and Hyatt Street, April 20. (more…)

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Around 7 o’clock, Saturday morning, Monticello Police received a phone call reporting a break-in at Western Sizzlin’ restaurant.

This was the 2nd burglary at the restaurant this week, after the one discovered Monday morning.

Monticello Police are investigating the crime, and encourage anyone who may have seen a suspicious vehicle or person to call them at 367-

Vandalism has taken place in our local Monticello parks again over recent weeks, as shown by the photos above.

The top left shows (inside of the circles) where a loud speaker was taken from the ball field at Jordan Park. City workers discovered the speaker missing Monday morning when they arrived at work.

The top center pic shows where the “men” and “women” signs were removed from the new restrooms at McCloy Park, last week.

The bottom row of photos show where the pavilion at Lake Monticello’s table were “re-arranged” with litter scattered around the receptacles on both ends of the lake earlier this month.

Between the closing times of Western Sizzlin’ and Pizza Hut and when employees arrived at work Monday morning vandals forcefully entered both local restaurants in apparent efforts to get money.

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Around 5:30, Friday morning, a Drew County Sheriff’s deputy and SEEMS ambulance responded to a home on HWY 83 North, in response to the report of a man accidentally shooting himself in the shoulder with a rifle.

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Robert Jackson, of North Bailey St., was arrested by Monticello Police, Thursday evening around 10 pm, and charged with DWI 5, driving with a suspended license, and fleeing.

Jackson was seen by a police officer, whom he refused to stop for, until he’d made several turns, and driven across a yard to get to his residence, as he allegedly made several turns without a signal and ignored a couple of stop signs.

Judge Bynum Gibson set Jackson’s bond at $20,000

According to reports, at 10:39, Sunday night, Monticello Police Dispatch received a 911 call from the Sonic drive-in, reporting an armed robbery where the manager and an employee were confronted by an unidentified black male, wearing a black hoodie and other dark clothing, carrying a gun.

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Ramien Collins was on trial, Wednesday, on 2nd degree battery charges, for the alleged beating of Mario Gilbert on October 8, after Gilbert had entered Collins’ parents home with a “sawed off shotgun”, forcing 3 men outside the residence to go into the Florence Road home with him.    (more…)

According to Bill Sadler, public information officer for the Arkansas State Police, Chicot County Sheriffs Deputies, Dermott Police and Special Agents of the Arkansas State Police Criminal Investigation Division are investigating an incident reported yesterday (Sunday, April 17th 2011) that resulted in the death of two children and the injury of their mother.

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Monticello Police Department patrolman Kenny Cox was recognized Thursday by the Monticello Lions Club as the “Officer of the Year” for the second consecutive year.

Cox, a native of Dumas, was raised in law enforcement, and has served five years as an officer.  He began his career in Crossett, and has served the past three years as an MPD patrolman.

Police Chief Robert Rosegrant and Lt. Carlos Garcia presented the award to Cox, and explained the criteria for earning the award is based on a point system.  Points are awarded for DWI, drug, and felony arrest, and also take into account the number of accident and incident reports done.   “Going above and beyond the call of duty” is also taken into consideration.

Rosegrant and Garcia both thanked the members of the Lions Club for their continued support of the Monticello Police Department and its officers.

A candlelight vigil was held Wednesday night at UAM’s Weevil Pond for Katlin Lidge.  Katlin was a member of the Kappa Eta chapter of Kappa Alpha Psi, Inc. fraternity, and was planning to graduate in May.

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Peter Harvey is shown leaving the Drew County Courthouse after an earlier hearing for the Crossett Capitol Murder of Donna Woodberry, and the armed robbery of a First National Bank branch..

According to AshleyCountyLedger.com, 10th Judicial District Circuit Judge Sam Pope sentenced a Louisiana man to the maximum sentence for six felony counts in connection with the July 1, 2010, kidnaping and murder of Donna Woodberry and subsequent armed robbery of the North Crossett branch of First National Bank of Crossett in Ashley County Circuit Court Thursday afternoon.

For the full story, see AshleyCountyLedger.com

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In Drew County Circuit Court last week, a former Monticello Elementary teacher accepted a guilty plea on the list of charges against her, as well as having her probation revoked on some of the earlier charges.

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According to Sheriff Mark Gober, on Friday, February 18th, the Drew County Sheriff’s Department conducted a search warrant at 430 East Oakland Street located at the corner of East Oakland and Conley Street. Members of Monticello Police Department assisted in the search of the residence. When officers arrived, there were two suspects standing in the driveway and another two sitting in a car under the carport.

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Drug Task Force agents and Monticello Police arrested two Fordyce men on felony drug charges according to Lt. Jason Akers.

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In Drew County Circuit Court, last week, a 51 year old Monticello area man pled guilty to multiple charges of “2nd degree sexual assault” against 3 female victims, under the age of 14.

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The Arkansas Supreme Court on December 16 issued two opinions denying Kenneth Isom’s post-conviction appeals. Isom was convicted in 2001 in the Drew County Circuit Court of the capital murder of Bill Burton and of the rape and attempted murder of an elderly relative of Burton who was staying with him while he recuperated from surgery. He was also convicted of aggravated robbery and residential burglary. Isom was sentenced to death on the murder and to life plus 100 years on the other charges. (more…)

It seems to have been an interesting week at the Monticello Parole & Probation Office, with arrests being made of “clients” on both Thursday and Friday. (more…)

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Tuesday, a Nissan 4-wheel drive pick-up, which was reported as being stolen back in 2004, was pulled out of the Old HWY 13, Plantersville Road Access end of Lake Monticello.

With the recent lack of rain, the water level in Lake Monticello is much lower than usual, and allowed the top of the truck to be seen by someone fishing from their boat.

The truck was located in water estimated to be  9 feet deep, approximately 50 from the boat ramp.

The ongoing investigation is being done by the Drew County Sheriff’s Dept.  The Arkansas Game & Fish Commission and the Fire Dept. Dive Team assisted Triple A Towing in the recovery of the Nissan from the lake.

Eric Chisom and Kyle Berryman of the Fire Dept. are shown in the lake, as the truck is being towed out.

The photo was provided by monticellobigbass.com.

A jury of 6 men and 6 women took approximately 30 minutes to find Col. Robert Avery not guilty of the charge of sexual assault of a former student of the Warren ROTC program director.

The alleged victim had reported 3 different dates during late October 2009, as being the date the single act took place, included homecoming Friday, Halloween, and the date that she testified to in court.

She also admitted, on the witness stand,  that she had lied to Arkansas State Police investigators about prior sexual activity.

Although her “skin DNA” was found on a couch cushion, where the alleged intercourse took place, there was no other form of DNA present there.  This seemed important, due to the 17 year old’s testimony that the act lasted “around an hour” and based on her “cycle”.

In summary, the jury did not believe that Avery had sex with the former student, who was a part of the ROTC program he supervised at Warren High School.

Robert Gibson and Cliff Gibson represented Avery, all of whom were pleased with the jury’s decision.

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