The Pine Bluff Police Department has released new information about two recent crimes now found to be linked.

The case was explained in a news release issued this afternoon:

On September 18th, 2009 Mr. Jerry Cobbs, a Captain with the Little Rock Fire Department, reported that at approximately 1:00 a.m. that morning he had been robbed and kidnapped from his home by three men. The suspects were armed with handguns and wearing bandanas over their faces when they entered the home, forced Mr. Cobbs to the floor and bound him with duct tape. The attackers ransacked the residence taking jewelry and a computer. Mr. Cobbs’s life was threatened if he could not get them some money. They then used Mr. Cobbs’ vehicle to drive to a nearby Simmons First National Bank ATM. The security camera recorded a video picture of a suspect using Mr. Cobbs’ bankcard to withdraw several hundred dollars. They then drove to a Pine Bluff National Bank where for the second time they withdrew a substantial amount of money from his account.

After driving behind Dollarway High School, the three men exited the vehicle and told Mr. Cobbs to count to 20 before leaving. The suspects fled in an unknown direction.

The person in the video was later identified as Michael Smith. Smith’s last known known address was 1403 Nebraska in Pine Bluff. After his picture was shown on television and published in the news paper Michael Smith fled Pine Bluff and is at large.

On October 21st, 2009 at approximately 5:40 a.m. an officer of the Pine Bluff Police Department responded to the Valero Station at 3000 East Harding Avenue. The officer observed a man in a white shirt and jeans standing at the door with a small amount of blood on his shirt around the left shoulder. The officer observed small bumps on his shoulder, front and back, and under his arm on his left side. Some of the bumps appeared to be bleeding. The man advised he didn't want to go to the hospital and signed a refusal with Emergency Ambulance Service. He was identified as 28 year old Kenneth Darrough.

Darrough advised that he was at America's Best Inn and three black males, wearing dark clothing and masks, came up to him and said "drop it off". He advised that he started running to his car and they shot him. He advised that he heard four or five gunshots. He did not advise he had a room at America's Best Inn or state why he was there. The officer then returned back to 2700 E. Harding and assisted other officers.

The door to room 141 was open and there was a cell phone charger lying outside. When the officers entered the room through the open door they observed a man wearing a blue hooded sweat shirt and black pants, laying face down with his hands underneath him. He was not breathing and did not appear to have a pulse and had blood on his hands and on the floor underneath him. The man appeared to have a mask on his face and he also had a black handgun laying underneath his left hand. There were bullet holes in the glass of the hotel room, a room key where found outside on the parking lot, and three unspent shells on the ground in front of the hotel room. There were also both glass fragments and bullet fragments found outside the hotel room. There were multiple spent shell casings found inside the hotel room.

On September 25th, 2009 Mr. Cobbs reported to detectives that during the time of the robbery, 17 Year old Aleisha Sims was in the residence with him when the three assailants entered. Mr. Cobbs said he had been dating her for about a year. Mr. Cobbs reported that about a month previous he had tried to call off the relationship with Ms. Sims. Ms. Sims' friend, Tara, reportedly threatened to tell Mr. Cobbs’ wife about his relationship with Ms. Sims if he did not give her some money. “Tara” was identified as Latara Boyd, 17. Mr. Cobbs withheld this information from detectives during the initial investigation.

After being interviewed by detectives it was determined that Latara Boyd and Aleisha Sims had planned to rob Mr. Cobbs. After developing this information, detectives were able to arrest Aleisha Sims, Latara Boyd, and Bruce Shelton. A warrant has been issued for the arrest of the fourth suspect, Michael Smith. Their charges are Aggravated Robbery, Kidnapping, Burglary, and Theft of Property.

The investigation further revealed that Sims, Boyd, Bruce Shelton, 18, Marcus McAfee, 15, and James Lee, 31, had planned to rob Kenneth Darrough. During the attempted robbery, Kenneth Darrough killed one of his assailants later determined to be Lee, of Pine Bluff. The surviving assailants were charged with; Capital Murder, and Criminal Attempt Aggravated Robbery. (All juveniles are to be charged as adults)

After it was established that Kenneth Darrough was a convicted felon, he was charged with Possession of a Firearm by Certain Persons.

Anyone having any information about the whereabouts of Michael Smith is asked to call the Pine Bluff Police Department’s Detective Division at (870) 543-5111. All calls are confidential and a substantial reward is being offered for information leading to the apprehension of Michael Smith.