Two men were arrested Friday after they allegedly broke into coin operated machines at three different locations.
Matthew Hankins, 25, was taken into custody at the Day’s Inn and Suites at 406 N. Blake St. after security video showed Hankins and another man damaging two vending machines, Deputy Prosecutor Cymber Gieringer said during a probable cause hearing for Hankins and Edward Freeman, 43, Monday.
According to a probable cause affidavit from Pine Bluff Police Department Detective Marcia Oliver, Hankins was trying to rent a room at the motel at the time he was seen by police and ran, but was caught.
Video from the business was also used to identify Freeman, Gieringer said.
In addition to the motel, police said Hankins and Freeman broke into a change machine at PIPS Car-wash at 3401 S. Catalpa St. on Thursday, causing an estimated $1,000 damage, and at Excel Car-wash at 2171 Ridgway Road, also causing an estimated $1,000 damage.
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Gieringer said Freeman had prior convictions from Mississippi and Texas, and his most recent address was in Mississippi, while Hankins is currently on parole and is being held for the Department of Community Corrections for a parole violation.
Jefferson County District Judge Kim Bridgforth set a $10,000 bond for Freeman and a $25,000 bond for Hankins after ruling prosecutors have probable cause to charge them with three counts of breaking or entering and three counts of criminal mischief.
Freeman said he would hire his own attorney and the Public Defender’s Office was appointed to represent Hankins.