Man who shot at Hot Springs police sentenced to federal prison

An Arkansas man responsible for a shootout with police in downtown Hot Springs will spend 20 years in federal prison

arkadelphian.com

The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Arkansas announced that 36-year-old Jonathan Allen Scott, of Hot Springs, was sentenced for assault resulting in serious bodily injury and assault with intent to do bodily harm. The charges stem from a July 28, 2019 shooting incident in Hot Springs National Park.

Armed with a 12-gauge shotgun, Scott entered the national park along Bath House Row, east of Central Avenue, and was confronted by officers with the Hot Springs Police Department following 911 calls. Scott fired a slug into the ground in the direction of one of the officers as dozens of onlookers were in the area of the crowded Central Avenue.

Two HSPD officers, along with their K9 partner, approached Scott and ordered him to drop the weapon. Scott refused the orders, instead turning on the officers with the shotgun. Simultaneously one of the officers shot at Scott, striking him multiple times. Scott fired at officers, wounding one and his K9 as shrapnel from a round fired into the sidewalk hit the officers.

Both the officer and K9 recovered from the injuries, and Scott was treated and later arrested at a local hospital. A subsequent investigation by special agents of the Arkansas State Police and National Park Service-Investigative Services Branch, established the full extent of Scott’s actions and he was taken into custody after his release from the hospital. Scott was later indicted by a federal grand jury in April 2019.

U.S. Attorney David Clay Fowlkes of the Western District of Arkansas made the announcement of Scott’s sentence.

The case was investigated by special agents of the Arkansas State Police, National Park Service – Investigative Services Branch and U.S. Park Rangers at Hot Springs National Park, with the assistance of the Garland County Arkansas Sheriff’s Office and Hot Springs Police Department.

Assistant U.S. Attorney Bryan Achorn and First Assistant U.S. Attorney Kenny Elser prosecuted the case for the United States. Chief Judge Susan O. Hickey presided over the case.