UPDATE JUNE 19, 2025, 8:30AM
The suspect in the alleged booby trap arrest has been named. Robert Sheridan is charged with “Booby Trap Unlawful to Install/Maintain – Felony.” He was booked at the Saline County Detention Center at 3:09 p.m. on June 18th. A bond amount has not been set at this time.
ORIGINAL STORY JUNE 18, 2025, 5:27PM
Benton Police Chief Scotty Hodges confirms there has been a bomb squad at the scene of an arrest on Wednesday afternoon, however, there is no threat to the public.
Chief Hodges stated that officers were at residential property on Pearl Street recently on an unrelated visit, but noticed “booby traps” present. Arkansas Code states that those are unlawful, so the officers obtained both a search warrant and an arrest warrant for the suspect. They returned to the property and arrested the suspect, whose name has not yet been released. If found guilty, this is a Class D Felony.
The Little Rock Fire Department is cooperating with the investigation, by bringing their bomb squad, including a robot that is able to open doors, according to Chief Hodges. See the state law below, concerning “booby traps.”
AR Code § 5-73-126
- (a) It is unlawful for any person to install or maintain a booby trap upon his or her own property or any other person’s property.
- (b) As used in this section, “booby trap” means a device designed to cause death or serious physical injury to a person.
- (c) Any person who pleads guilty or nolo contendere or who is found guilty of violating this section is guilty of a Class D felony.
MySaline will update this article with any new information as we get it.
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