Recent Mineral Springs graduate charged after school break-in, stolen handgun found during stadium arrest

MINERAL SPRINGS, Ark. — An 18-year-old Mineral Springs man is facing three felony charges after police say he broke into the school district’s administration building in May and was arrested two weeks later at the high school football stadium carrying a stolen handgun.

Cayden Collins, 18, is charged in Howard County Circuit Court with commercial burglary, a Class C felony; handgun possession on school property, a Class D felony; theft by receiving, a Class D felony; and misdemeanor theft of property, according to a criminal information filed Aug. 4 by Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Aaron Brasel of the Ninth West Judicial District.

The break-in

According to a probable cause affidavit sworn by Mineral Springs Police Chief Francisco Mercado, Officer Jason McDonald was dispatched to the Mineral Springs School District on June 2 after Central Office staff reported food and drinks had been taken from the boardroom refrigerator.

Superintendent JonDavid Amerson told the officer he reviewed surveillance footage showing that around 10 p.m. on May 26, a male wearing a hoodie and carrying a backpack entered the administration building through a side door. Once inside, the man removed his hood, and Amerson identified him as Collins, a former student who had recently graduated from the district, the affidavit states.

The footage showed Collins entering numerous classrooms and the boardroom using a flashlight before leaving about 15 minutes later, according to the affidavit. Staff determined the only items missing were food and drinks from the boardroom refrigerator.

Amerson told police the side door had not been intentionally left unlocked. He said the school’s doors operate on magnetic locks that can reset during power surges, sometimes leaving doors unsecured, according to the affidavit.

A warrant for Collins’ arrest was issued June 3.

The stadium arrest

On June 8, around 8 p.m., Chief Mercado was patrolling West Collins Street near the high school football stadium when he spotted Collins there and arrested him on the outstanding warrant, according to a second affidavit.

During a pat-down, Mercado noted Collins was wearing a fanny pack across his torso and said he had previously received information that Collins might be carrying a firearm in the bag. When asked, Collins confirmed there was a weapon inside, and Mercado removed a Ruger Security-9 9mm handgun equipped with an extended magazine, the affidavit states.

Collins initially said the gun belonged to his father but later said he had purchased it himself, according to the affidavit.

After Collins was transported to the Howard County Jail, dispatch ran the firearm through state and national crime databases and found it had been reported stolen out of Hope, the affidavit states.

In an interview after being advised of his rights, Collins admitted entering the school and taking food, according to the affidavit. He told the chief he bought the handgun several months earlier for about $300 from an unknown man from Hope who had advertised it on Instagram, and he refused to identify the seller.

The charges

The commercial burglary count carries three to 10 years in the Arkansas Department of Corrections and/or a fine of up to $10,000. The two Class D felonies — handgun possession on school property and theft by receiving of a firearm valued at less than $2,500 — each carry up to six years and/or a $10,000 fine. The misdemeanor theft count is punishable by up to a year in county jail and/or a $2,500 fine.

The case, 31CR-26-56, was filed under Prosecuting Attorney Jana Bradford’s office.

Charges are accusations, and the defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.