Texas Man Arrested After Alleged Road Rage in Walnut Ridge

WALNUT RIDGE, Ark. — A Texas defendant was arrested following an alleged hit-and-run crash that caused significant damage to a utility truck earlier this week, according to a probable cause affidavit filed by the Walnut Ridge Police Department.

Preston Wayne Latham, 40, of Mount Pleasant, Texas, was arrested on charges of aggravated assault, a Class D felony; first-degree criminal mischief, a Class D felony; and accidents involving damage, a misdemeanor.

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According to the affidavit written by Detective Aaron Moore, officers were dispatched to Montgomery Street on Jan. 5, 2026, to investigate a possible accident. Upon arrival, police learned that a complainant had contacted dispatch to report their vehicle had been struck in a collision.

The complainant told officers they were driving behind a black Ford pickup truck carrying ladders in its bed when a road rage incident occurred. According to the affidavit, the pickup slowed down and then struck the complainant’s vehicle before fleeing the scene.

Dispatch later received multiple reports of a pickup truck missing a tire and traveling toward Randolph County. Deputies with the Randolph County Sheriff’s Office located the vehicle and its driver, identified as Latham.

Investigators observed the truck had ladders in the bed, front-end damage, and was missing the front passenger-side tire. Latham was taken into custody without incident.

According to the affidavit, investigators later recovered the missing tire at the scene of the crash. The tire reportedly matched the remaining three tires on Latham’s vehicle. Police also documented damage to the pickup’s front fender, driver-side doors, and driver-side step rails.

Latham was arrested and booked on the listed charges. Bail was set at $25,000 cash or surety by Judge Alex Bigger, with the judge noting the defendant is from Texas.

He has since bonded out of jail.

All suspects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.