2 days, 2 arrests for former friends
Staff writer
A series of incidents between former friends led to arrests of two of them on consecutive days.
Paul A. Huddleston, 26, Marion, got into an altercation at 3:46 a.m. Feb. 7 with a group of former friends in the 300 block of Locust St. He had been screaming and yelling at the former friends and revving his engine in front of the residence, Interim Police Chief Zach Hudlin said.
When he drove away, they reported to police that Huddleston was driving drunk.
Officer Aaron Slater spotted Huddleston’s 1997 Ford Ranger in the 600 block of E. Main St. He turned on his lights and sirens, but Huddleston refused to pull over. Instead he attempted to elude Slater by driving 50 mph down Main St. before turning left on Cedar St. and left again on Lawrence St. After a five block chase, Huddleston pulled over in the 600 block of E. Lawrence.
Slater arrested Huddleston on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement, driving without a valid license, speeding, making an improper turn signal, and having a defective license tag light.
Huddleston was released from jail 14 hours later after posting a $2,500 bond.
Just before midnight that night, Johnathan Prebble, one of the group that had reported Huddleston for drunken driving, tried to run over Huddleston as he was walking along the 200 block on N. 1st St.
Tracy Brown, 25, of the 100 block of W. Santa Fe St., and 20-year-old Shaylee R. Creevan, of the 200 block of N. 1st St., were walking with Huddleston.
Prebble sped up while driving a 2002 Dodge pickup toward Huddleston, whose friend had to pull him out of the way of the pickup.
Prebble had 15-year-old Zeth Hays, 311 Locust St., in his pickup when he tried to run over Huddleston.
Once again, police were notified.
Officer Dustin Woodford arrested Prebble at 1:20 a.m. Feb. 8 in the 200 block of N. Cedar St. on suspicion of aggravated assault, disorderly conduct, criminal use of a weapon, aggravated child endangerment, and driving without proof of insurance.
Woodford seized a 9mm Hi-Point handgun, eight rounds of ammunition, a holster, and an eight-round magazine for the handgun.
Hudlin said when police carefully looked at statutes regarding possession of the weapon, ammunition, and holster, they decided it didn’t apply to Prebble.
He formally was charged Friday with aggravated assault, aggravated endangering a child, driving without proof of insurance, and disorderly conduct.
He was released nearly three days later after posting a $10,000 bond. He previously was jailed Dec. 15 and 16 for failing to appear in court.
The physical description of Huddleston varies significantly in the two reports involving him. He is described as 6’1” ad 219 pounds in the report of the aggravated assault and as 5’10” and 164 pounds in the report of drunken driving.