Arrest made after armed robbery in Ava, suspect shot at officers during all-night manhunt

A man familiar to law enforcement in Douglas County is back behind bars after being arrested early Saturday morning for committing an armed robbery at a business in Ava and shooting at law enforcement officers during a all-night manhunt. Thirty-eight-year-old Bryan Thomas Arnold of Lebanon, Missouri, who was let out of jail just three days earlier, is facing 19 felony charges for his night of crime.According to information from the Ava Police Department and Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, about 9:30 Friday night, they received a call from the Murphy’s gas station in front of Walmart of an armed robbery. The employee said Arnold was purchasing a few items and asked if they had change for a $100 bill. He then lifted his shirt to show he had a handgun in his waistband and said “throw everything in the bag or I will have to pull this out.” The employee took all of the cash out of the till and put it in the bag and Arnold left the store. Arnold got away with just over $350 in cash.

Law enforcement was able to pull surveillance video and Arnold was quickly identified as the suspect.

There were several reported sightings of Arnold in Ava and Douglas County through the night, but about 4:00 Saturday morning a call came in from a resident who lives on Missouri Highway 76 west of Ava saying Arnold had knocked on the door asking for water. Law enforcement converged on the area and a drone was deployed. As law enforcement got closer, Arnold fired a single shot. Verbal commands were given for Arnold to surrender and put his hands in the air which he did, and it was confirmed by the drone.

At the time of his arrest, the gun Arnold used to shoot at law enforcement was not found. They reviewed the drone footage and returned Saturday afternoon and retrieved the gun and bullets hidden in a tree.

Arnold is facing nine counts of armed criminal action, seven counts of first degree assault on law enforcement officers, first degree robbery, stealing and resisting arrest, all felonies. He is being held in the Douglas County Jail.

Arnold was originally arrested Oct. 15 after a several-hour manhunt resulting in numerous felony charges, which included felony fleeing arrest, resulting in his incarceration in the Douglas County Jail.

On Nov. 4, the court ordered Arnold to be released from the Douglas County Jail on his own recognizance to attend a faith-based recovery program, which he never attended.

ARKANSAS ARRESTS

Arnold used to live in northeast Arkansas and had five felony arrests there dating back to 2007. His charges include possession of a controlled substance, breaking or entering, theft of property, possession of a controlled counterfeit substance and fleeing.

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