James Arthur Bowden, 42, of Dardanelle was arrested this afternoon, May 11th at 2:40pm, after a five hours standoff with the Arkansas State police and local law enforcement agencies. He was taken into custody at a residence, 10024 Gum Springs Road in Yell County, west of Dardanelle.
Bowden is being held in connection with three homicides that occurred this morning, including the death of Yell County Sheriff’s Deputy Lieutenant Kevin Mainhart.
ORIGINAL RELEASE : YELL COUNTY DEPUTY KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY: TWO OTHERS DEAD
Lieutenant Kevin C. Mainhart, 46, of the Yell County Sheriff’s Department was killed in the line of duty today during a traffic stop west of Dardanelle, Arkansas along State Highway 27 near the junction of Slo-Fork Road.
Lieutenant Mainhart had served the citizens of Yell County as a law enforcement officer for five years and previously retired from the West Memphis Police Department following a career of more than twenty years.
At approximately 7:18 AM today (Thursday, May 11, 2017), Lieutenant Mainhart initiated a traffic stop after identifying a vehicle believed to be associated with a disturbance call at 10024 Gum Springs Road.
During the course of the traffic stop the deputy was fatally wounded. A short-time later a motorist passing the site notified local law enforcement Lieutenant Mainhart had been shot.
As other local officers arrived at the Gum Springs address, the deceased bodies of two other individuals were found outside the residence. The identity of the victims is not known at this hour.
Shortly before 10 AM today Yell County Deputies and Arkansas State Police identified a location where a suspect is believed to be located. State Police negotiators are attempting to make contact with the individual.