Dispatch Desk: Man says his identify used to obtain student loan

The following incidents were gathered from reports filed May 18-25, 2026, at the Arkadelphia Police Department and Clark County Sheriff’s Office. Arrested or cited individuals are presumed innocent until found guilty in a court of law. The Arkadelphian does not withhold names, so don’t even think about asking. 

Arkadelphia Police Department

Monday, May 18

2:33 p.m.
Responding to a woman’s complaint that her mother was in violation of an active order of protection, police arrived at the complainant’s Lynnwood Drive to observe the suspect, Anna Denise Freeman, 63, riding a lawn mower onto the property. Freeman was taken into custody without incident and taken to jail for the misdemeanor charge.

7:37 p.m.
Officers were called to a disturbance at A-Town Fitness, 2707 Pine St. A policeman arrived to observe a shouting match between multiple gym users, and spoke to the two parties involved in the reported altercation. It was learned that the aggressor had moved weights from a station another member was using, prompting a brief scuffle. The aggressor was instructed not to return to the gym for the evening. No arrest was made.

A man reported he was likely the victim of financial identity fraud, as he discovered on a credit building app that someone had used his name to borrow more than $4,500 in student loans. He had no other proof at the time the report was filed.

Tuesday, May 19

4:43 p.m.
A female reported receiving harassing and threatening text messages from a relative. She was advised to follow up with the prosecutor’s office.

Friday, May 22
10:58 a.m.

A female reported her ex had repeatedly violated a longstanding protection order, providing screenshots of messages he had recently sent. Though initial attempts to locate the suspect, Jeffrey Eckler, 33, of Arkadelphia, he was located that afternoon at a 10th Street dealership and arrested for violating the protection order.

Juvenile report: Theft of property valued less than $1,000

Saturday, May 23

1:13 p.m.
Police were called to Brookshire’s for a store complaint of a female shoplifter seen on video stashing merchandise into her purse. Contact was made inside the store with the suspect, Janell Forthman, 55, of Arkadelphia. Forthman produced the stolen merchandise, and was arrested for theft of property in addition to being banned from all Brookshire’s locations.

Sunday, May 24

12:05 a.m.
Officers were dispatched to Baptist Health Medical Center for a report that a female arrived carrying a motorcycle helmet and requesting assistance. Hospital staff advised that the woman couldn’t positively produce her own name. A police check of a motorcycle’s registration reflected the name she provided. Information from a police agency in Texas confirmed the Mesquite woman’s identity. Contact was made with her husband, who was en route to the hospital. The report does not indicate why the woman was admitted to the hospital.

5:11 a.m.
Patrolling the rear parking lot of Arkadelphia High School, an officer observed a brown SUV occupied by a female slumped over in the driver’s seat. Observing open containers of beer in the vehicle and noting that the occupant, 53-year-old Jennifer Ellen Fielding, of Little Rock, exhibited signs of intoxication, she was asked to exit the vehicle. Failing a series of field sobriety tests, Fielding was arrested for DWI.

Memorial Day

Juvenile report: 1st-degree terroristic threatening

Clark County Sheriff’s Office

Wednesday, May 20

9:36 p.m.
Observing a southbound vehicle on North 10th Street swerve over the fog line multiple times, almost striking a bridge, a deputy conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle near the Sale Barn. The driver, Megan Morrison, 34, of Arkadelphia, exhibited signs of intoxication. Asked to step out of the vehicle, Morrison displayed further evidence of intoxication, and admitted that she had been drinking. After failing a series of field sobriety tests, Morrison was arrested for DWI, careless and prohibited driving and no liability insurance. Subsequent to a search of the vehicle, she was additionally charged with possession of drug paraphernalia.