Jonesboro, AR – Jonesboro Right Now – A Jonesboro man is being held on a $1 million cash/surety bond after police said he forced entry into multiple homes, assaulted residents, and resisted arrest.

District Judge David Boling found probable cause July 22 to charge 32-year-old Reco Ledale Smith with the following offenses:

  • Two counts of aggravated residential burglary (Class A felony)
  • One count of possession of meth or cocaine less than two grams (Class D felony)
  • One count of breaking or entering/building or structure (Class D felony)
  • One count of first-degree false imprisonment – kidnapping (Class C felony)
  • One count of criminal attempt – aggravated residential burglary (Class B felony)
  • Three counts of first-degree criminal mischief/property of another with a value of $1,000 or less (Class A misdemeanor)
  • One count of public intoxication (Class C misdemeanor)
  • One count of disorderly conduct (Class C misdemeanor)
  • One count of third-degree battery/purpose of causing injury, causes injury (Class A misdemeanor)
  • Two counts of criminal attempt – breaking or entering/second-degree battery on a law enforcement officer (Class A misdemeanor)
  • One count of second-degree criminal impersonation/assumes false identity (Class A misdemeanor)
  • One count of cruelty to animals (Unclassified)

According to the probable cause affidavit, on July 18, Jonesboro police officers were dispatched to a residential burglary in progress at a North Fisher Street home. The victim said that she was taking a shower when she heard her dogs barking. When checking on them, she saw a man breaking the glass on her side and forcing his way inside.

| ADD US ON GOOGLE NEWS: Click here to see more local news from Jonesboro Right Now

Upon seeing the man enter, the victim ran to her bedroom with the man chasing her. She was able to lock the bedroom door before the man could enter. While hiding, the victim heard the man kicking her dogs and attempting to exit through the back door. Several minutes later, she saw the man leaving through the same side door he used to get inside.

Officers noted that the man had cut himself while breaking the glass door, as blood was found throughout the house and on several windows. Two other windows were found to be broken.

While investigating the scene, officers heard screaming coming from Drake Street. They went to the source of the screams and found the man, later identified as Smith, covered in blood, standing in front of a home.

Officers repeatedly ordered Smith to get on the ground, but he refused to comply. They were able to take Smith to the ground and place him into custody. Smith was noted to have multiple large cuts on his arms consistent with injuries he got from breaking glass.

The affidavit stated that while he was being arrested, Smith was extremely irate and repeatedly threatened to harm an unspecified individual. He continued refusing officers’ commands throughout the arrest. A search of Smith revealed a bag containing meth.

Due to his injuries, Smith was taken by emergency medical services to a hospital while officers accompanied them. During the transport, police said Smith attempted to bite an officer who was restraining him inside the ambulance.

As Smith was being taken to the hospital, officers contacted additional victims on Drake Street. They learned that after Smith ran from the North Fisher Street home, he went to Drake Street where he forced entry into a vacant apartment by damaging the front door frame and breaking a rear window. Blood was also found throughout the apartment.

The affidavit stated that Smith then went to an adjoining apartment where he repeatedly banged on the front door while yelling, “Police! Police! Open up!” The resident said she went downstairs after hearing the knocking, believing the door was locked. Before she could reach the door, Smith had already come inside.

Smith grabbed the victim by her shirt, pulled her outside, causing her to fall, and dragged her along the sidewalk. This resulted in multiple abrasions and injuries to her hands and legs. Smith then walked to another apartment and began knocking on the door. During this time, the victim broke free and ran across the street to another home while Smith chased her.

The victim tried to get help from the home, but no one answered. Smith caught up to her and tried to force entry into the home. He was unable to do so and tried to enter a vehicle parked in the driveway. After finding it locked, Smith returned to the home and tried to force entry again. Shortly after, officers arrived and took Smith into custody.

During the investigation, officers collected multiple videos that matched up with the victims’ statements and documented Smith’s actions throughout the incident. As a result, once he was medically cleared from the hospital, Smith was taken to the Craighead County Detention Center.

While arguing for a bond, Smith told Boling during Wednesday’s hearing that the only reason he did what he did was because someone was trying to kill him and he needed help from police. Boling asked why he didn’t call the police, to which Smith replied that he didn’t have a phone.

Boling set the bond at $1 million, with the condition that Smith have no contact with the victims and wear a GPS ankle monitor upon release due to having a history of violence and being considered “a danger to the public.”

| DAILY BRIEF: Sign up for the Jonesboro Right Now Daily Brief Newsletter