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Bondsmen arrested for identity mix-up |
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Monday, 11 May 2009 |
Two bail bondsmen recently were arrested after allegedly holding a man at gunpoint at a Benton business, according to Benton police.
Wanda and Dewey Chism of Little Rock, working for Kathy’s Bail Bonds in Benton, each posted a $1,000 bond and each faces a surrender of defendant charge.
Dewey Chism, 46, also faces a charge of aggravated assault.
According to Benton Detective Jeff Parsons, a bail bondsman is “supposed to notify law enforcement agencies of intentions to arrest a person.” According to Arkansas statutes, the violation of the law is a felony charge.
The incident reportedly happened at Duke Wholesale, 1709 Military Road, shortly after 1:30 p.m. on April 14. Officer Elias Fowlkes said in a report that he responded to a disturbance with weapons call and found four people, including the Chisms.
Kevin George of Pine Bluff and Mark Duke of Benton said they were walking into the business parking lot when a minivan pulled up and someone yelled at them. Duke told Fowlkes that Dewey yelled at George to “put your hands up,” pulled out a chrome pistol and pointed it at the back of George’s head. Wanda Chism allegedly told Dewey to put the gun away and stepped in between the two.
Wanda Chism, 45, reportedly told Fowlkes that she and Dewey Chism are bail bondsmen and were looking for a man identified as Ryan Fagan. She and she thought George “looked like Ryan.” She also told Fowlkes that she and Dewey Chism identified themselves to George and Duke as bail bondsmen when they exited their vehicle. Dewey Chism reportedly denied pulling out a handgun or pointing it at anyone.
At the time of the incident, Fowlkes reportedly told Wanda and Dewey Chism to contact uniformed officers before attempting an arrest and to leave the property. Fowlkes also reportedly told the Chism couple that if they returned to the business, they would be charged with criminal trespass.
Kathy Chism of Kathy’s Bail Bonds in Benton also called Fowlkes later and said Wanda and Dewey Chism are subcontracted employees and did not work directly for her business, the report said. Detective Parsons, however, said further investigation led to the arrests of Wanda and Dewey Chism.
“Bail bondsmen have a right to carry a weapon if they have an Arkansas concealed weapon permit,” Parsons said, “but they have to abide by the laws of the permit. They do not have the same laws (rights) as a law enforcement officer.”
Sgt. Kevin Russell also said bail bondsmen are allowed to make an arrest of a person under contract with them, but must adhere to certain conditions.
“A person basically is in the custody of a bail bondsman once they sign the paperwork,” Russell said. “So they have the right to take a person into custody, to an extent, but they must inform and communicate with law enforcement officers.”
He said a bail bondsman can be subject to revocation of his concealed handgun permit if he breaks the law or rules of the licensing agreement.
Wanda and Dewey Chism are expected to appear in Benton District Court at 1 p.m. on June 2.
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