Wanted felon leads Gravette officer on foot chase, caught

— A Siloam Springs man was arrested Friday evening after fleeing from a Gravette police officer.

According to Officer Brandon Handle, the driver of a vehicle, identified as Javier Dumas, 24, fled on foot after abandoning his vehicle in the Dollar General parking lot. Handle had attempted to stop the vehicle for expired tags.

According to Lt. David Smith of the Gravette Police Department, Handle was able to catch and arrest the man at the intersection of Second Avenue N.E. and Chicago Street.

After searching the area in the fading evening light and finding nothing, Handle advised residents in the area to call the police if they found anything, Smith said. The next morning a resident in the area located a black pistol wrapped in a rag in the back yard.

Smith said Dumas had an outstanding Benton County felony warrant and has been charged with fleeing and driving on a suspended license.

The case involving the firearm is still under investigation, the report states.

News, Pages 2 on 12/22/2010