A third suspect could be facing charges in connection with an alleged theft ring, and more items reported stolen from across north Arkansas and southwest Missouri continue to be recovered. Eureka Springs, Arkansas Police Chief Earl Hyatt says law enforcement agencies from multiple jurisdictions are in the process of retrieving the stolen items, including trailers, tailgates, wheels, tires and power tools, and returning them to their rightful owners…

Earl Hyatt 2012A030 

The stolen items were recovered last week from a Eureka Springs motel during an investigation into an arson fire at another motel next door.  Facing charges are 60-year-old Richard Basnett of Tahlequah,Oklahoma, one of the owners of the motel, and 35-year-old Jason Sears of Omaha, Arkansas.  Sears is in custody in Taney County, charged with tampering and resisting arrest.  He’s scheduled for a bond reduction hearing January 17th.  Chief Hyatt says charges against the third suspect are likely.  As for a dollar value of the recovered items, Hyatt says it’s too early to speculate.

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Representatives of at least eight law enforcement agencies in north Arkansas and southwest Missouri, including Stone and Taney Counties, are in the process of returning numerous stolen items to their rightful owners.  The items were recovered at a motel in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, where Police Chief Earl Hyatt says the discovery of trailers containing the items has led to the recovery of more stolen goods in southeast Carroll County…

Earl Hyatt 2012A031  

Hyatt says in Arkansas, the items were reported stolen in Madison, Carroll and Boone Counties, and the cities of Harrison, Berryville and Eureka Springs.  In Missouri, the items came from Taney andStone Counties, and the city of Branson.  Among the items taken by the alleged theft ring were trailers and tailgates from Branson auto dealerships, and clothing from Big Cedar Lodge.  Facing charges are 35-year-old Jason Sears of Omaha, Arkansas and 60-year-old Richard Basnett of Tahlequah, Oklahoma.  Hyatt says a third suspect has been developed but is not yet charged.  The discovery of the stolen items followed an investigation into an arson fire at an adjacent motel in Eureka Springs.