HOT SPRINGS, AR — A Hot Springs man got an unwelcome homecoming when he returned from the hospital to find a couple sleeping in his bed that had apparently been living in his house while he was gone.
Hot Springs Police arrested Robert Belcher, 19, and his girlfriend, Samantha McConnell, 18, after the elderly man reported them in his home on Saturday, May 2.
According to police, the couple was high on meth when they either went through the home’s side window or broke through it to get inside.
The homeowner, who is in his 60s, was gone at the hospital for a month. Neighbors said they never saw the couple walking around or inside his home.
“I was working on his car the whole time, what was going on inside of his house,” said Tarouis Allen. “If I had known, whew, you know, I would have ran up in there and threw them out.”
His stepdaughter, Queena Johnson, lived across the street from the victim. She was shocked when she saw police at her neighbor’s front door.
“We seen the police drag them out the house,” she told FOX 16 News reporter, Leah Uko. “They had a gun on them and a backpack like they was homeless.”
Police found syringes in the home and a loaded .22 pistol. McConnell admitted that she “shoots up” meth, police said. Belcher was awakened by officers, who found the pistol, which did not belong to the victim, underneath his pillow.
The incident had the neighborhood on watch for anymore unfamiliar faces roaming the area.
“That’s why I have my window up, as you see, to look around and make sure ain’t nothing else going on,” Johnson said.
While the victim’s home had security system signs around the exterior, indicating he had a system, Johnson and Allen said as long as they were living in the neighborhood, they would act as guards.
“They need to have somebody check on them,” Allen said. “People need family members and other people to check on them or even the cops could go by and check on certain people, but everybody needs somebody to check on them sometimes.”
Belcher and McConnell were taken into custody to the Garland County Detention Center. Belcher was charged with residential burglary and theft by receiving the firearm and a stolen vehicle from a prior theft. McConnell was charged with residential burglary and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $6,500. McConnell’s bond was set at $8,500.
Leah Uko contributed to this report. To follow story coverage with Leah Uko on Facebook click here. To follow story updates with Leah Uko on Twitter click here.
Hot Springs Police arrested Robert Belcher, 19, and his girlfriend, Samantha McConnell, 18, after the elderly man reported them in his home on Saturday, May 2.
According to police, the couple was high on meth when they either went through the home’s side window or broke through it to get inside.
The homeowner, who is in his 60s, was gone at the hospital for a month. Neighbors said they never saw the couple walking around or inside his home.
“I was working on his car the whole time, what was going on inside of his house,” said Tarouis Allen. “If I had known, whew, you know, I would have ran up in there and threw them out.”
His stepdaughter, Queena Johnson, lived across the street from the victim. She was shocked when she saw police at her neighbor’s front door.
“We seen the police drag them out the house,” she told FOX 16 News reporter, Leah Uko. “They had a gun on them and a backpack like they was homeless.”
Police found syringes in the home and a loaded .22 pistol. McConnell admitted that she “shoots up” meth, police said. Belcher was awakened by officers, who found the pistol, which did not belong to the victim, underneath his pillow.
The incident had the neighborhood on watch for anymore unfamiliar faces roaming the area.
“That’s why I have my window up, as you see, to look around and make sure ain’t nothing else going on,” Johnson said.
While the victim’s home had security system signs around the exterior, indicating he had a system, Johnson and Allen said as long as they were living in the neighborhood, they would act as guards.
“They need to have somebody check on them,” Allen said. “People need family members and other people to check on them or even the cops could go by and check on certain people, but everybody needs somebody to check on them sometimes.”
Belcher and McConnell were taken into custody to the Garland County Detention Center. Belcher was charged with residential burglary and theft by receiving the firearm and a stolen vehicle from a prior theft. McConnell was charged with residential burglary and possession of drug paraphernalia. Her bond was set at $6,500. McConnell’s bond was set at $8,500.
Leah Uko contributed to this report. To follow story coverage with Leah Uko on Facebook click here. To follow story updates with Leah Uko on Twitter click here.
