North Little Rock suspect says he had no memory of incident
By JOEL PHELPS | arkadelphian.com
Police records made public this week shed new light on a recent burglary of Arkadelphia’s Walmart Supercenter.
According to an affidavit filed by the Arkadelphia Police Department’s Criminal Investigation Division, Chad Andrew Hulsey, 39, of North Little Rock, is the lone suspect accused of breaking into the store, as well as a nearby place of worship.
At 1:55 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 8, 2026, police were called to Walmart for a report of breaking and entering and an employee being assaulted with a chemical substance. Upon arrival, officers made contact with Walmart staff who advised that an unknown white male wearing a red hat and grey sweatshirt approached the associate and threw a viscous blue liquid substance into his face and eyes, causing temporary loss of sight. The suspect then fled from the employee toward the automotive section, where it was believed he exited the building and fled in an unknown direction.
Officers later returned to Walmart for a report that the suspect had come back to the store. When police arrived they learned he had fled and was last seen entering the Dollar Tree, located in the shopping plaza across the street. At about 11:24 a.m. he was located inside Dollar Tree and taken into custody.
Walmart staff added that, during the earlier incident, Hulsey entered the server room with a blue cup, and was later seen exiting that room and walking down a hallway. Staff found coffee on the server equipment, causing disabling damage that resulted in the store being shut down for a full business day.
Following Hulsey’s arrest, at 1:08 p.m., police were summoned to New Life Church, 139 High School Dr., for another burglary report. Police believe that, during this incident, Hulsey broke windows and doors, ransacked offices and left food items in the open. He also allegedly broke into and damaged a church van.
During the investigation, police discovered that a pistol had been taken from a safe, later finding the firearm in an office and determining that it had been recently fired.
Church staff showed surveillance footage of the suspect engaging in multiple activities throughout the church. While processing the church van for evidence, investigators found a wallet containing identification belonging to Hulsey.
According to the affidavit, Hulsey told police that he had no memory of the incidents due to him ingesting a high dose of prescription medication — his last memory was being in Walmart’s parking lot.
He faces possible charges of Aggravated Assault; Breaking or Entering; two counts of first-degree Criminal Mischief; and Possession of a Firearm by a Certain Person. Formal charges are pending and will be determined by Clark County Prosecuting Attorney Dan Turner.
The original post appears below:
Vandal strikes Arkadelphia Walmart in early morning break-in, forces store closure Thursday
ARKADELPHIA, Arkansas — Scores of Walmart customers were turned away from entering the store Thursday, Jan. 8, following what law enforcement officials say was an early-morning break-in.
An out-of-town suspect reportedly entered the store around 2 a.m. Thursday and vandalized servers central to the store’s operation, Clark County Sheriff’s Office Investigator Lt. Russell Ursery posted to Facebook in response to an inquiry about why Walmart was closed. Ursery said the suspect at some point encountered a Walmart employee and assaulted him.
The incident sparked a felony investigation that remains under investigation headed by the Arkadelphia Police Department. Police Chief Jason “Shorty” Jackson told The Arkadelphian that the suspect initially fled the store and the area, but later returned to town where he was apprehended around midday and transported to the Clark County Detention Center for booking.
The suspect remained in custody Thursday afternoon as investigators ironed out the details and determined which charges to forward to the prosecutor’s office.
Walmart employees stood guard at both store entrances throughout the day Thursday, informing customers as they neared the doors that the store was closed. A Facebook page associated with the local store posted shortly after 3 p.m. that it would keep customers updated as s soon as its systems were up and running.
The store reopened on Friday morning, Jan. 9.
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