Paragould police arrested two sisters after one allegedly drove her car into her ex-boyfriend’s home and the other was accused of hindering her arrest.
Joanna Nevaeh Eskridge, 19, was charged with multiple offenses following the incident Sunday morning, according to an affidavit filed by Paragould Police Department investigator Blaine Cagle. Judge Curtis Hitt of the Greene County District Court set her bond at $125,000 cash or surety. She faces five charges, including first-degree criminal mischief and violation of a no-contact order, related to the events on Bradburn Street. Her sister, Jamie Eskridge, 18, received a $50,000 cash or surety bond on one charge of hindering apprehension, a Class D felony.
According to the affidavit, authorities were called to the residence at approximately 5:58 a.m. on Nov. 8. A man reported that his ex-girlfriend, later identified as Joanna, had assaulted him and rammed her car into his home. The man said he was in bed when he heard someone inside the house. Joanna reportedly forced her way into the home and broke into his locked bedroom using a knife before striking him on the back of the head. She allegedly tried to choke him during the altercation.
The victim informed officers that Joanna later left the house and returned in her car, striking a mailbox and a trash can before hitting the side of the house. This caused damage to the siding, air conditioning unit, and awning, according to the affidavit. Video evidence recorded by another man at the home reportedly supported the victim’s account.
The affidavit stated that Joanna violated a no-contact order issued after a previous domestic battery incident in September. During the confrontation, the victim reportedly sustained visible cuts on his arms that appeared consistent with scratches from Joanna’s fingernails.
Following the incident, the victim suspected Joanna had gone to her sister Jamie’s apartment on Scott Street. Officers located Joanna’s car outside the residence and observed damage to its front end. When officers spoke with Jamie and another woman at the apartment, both denied Joanna was present. The affidavit states that officers began securing a search warrant based on the circumstances, but Joanna exited the home about 20 minutes later.
Jamie was later arrested after reportedly admitting in a police interview that she had knowingly provided false information to conceal her sister’s whereabouts. According to Cagle’s affidavit, Joanna also confessed to being at her ex-boyfriend’s residence and knowingly violating the no-contact order. She additionally admitted to hitting the home’s A/C unit with her car.
Police have not released further details about the other woman taken into custody on suspicion of hindering apprehension. Both sisters remain in custody pending further court proceedings.
The investigation is ongoing.