On 1/9/15, at approximately 9:11 PM, officers with the Benton Police Department responded to the Saline Memorial Emergency Room in reference to call about a victim with a gunshot wound. Upon their arrival, officers make contact with the victim in the case who told them a suspect had shot them. According to the victim, she was driving by a residence at the corner of Tulane and Princeton Street when the suspect in the case, who was identified as Roderick Spears (21 YOA) of Benton, stepped out of a car at the home and shot at her car. She was struck by a bullet in the arm and then went to Saline Memorial Hospital for treatment. Spears and the victim were acquaintances with each other prior to this incident taking place.
Officers and detectives then attempted to locate Spears and speak with him about the incident. They made contact with him at approximately 10:35 PM, and based on information and evidence gathered they subsequently placed him under arrest in relation to the shooting.
Spears was transported to the Saline County Detention Facility for processing without incident. He is charged with 1st Degree Battery, Possession of a Firearm by Certain Persons (Felon), and Committing a Terroristic Act. Additionally, Spears is an active parolee out of the Arkansas Department of Community Corrections and is also being held on a warrant out of their agency. This is an on-going investigation and additional charges could be forthcoming.
Anyone with information about this crime is encouraged to contact the Benton Police Department at 501-778-1171 or 501-315-TIPS. Individuals also may send us an anonymous crime tip about this incident to CRIMES (274637) with the keyword BNPD in the body of the text or go to www.crimereports.com to leave a tip. A crime tip can also be submitted via the official Benton Police Department app found on ITunes and Google Play.
Any suspects listed are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.
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