DENNING (KFSM) — The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office released an arrest warrant affidavit Friday (Nov. 20) for a suspect accused of killing a man in Denning in September.
On Sept. 6 at about 11:45 p.m., deputies were called to Cherry Street where a man was lying face down in the southbound lane of traffic with a large cut to his neck, according to the affidavit. Investigators at the scene identified the victim as Justin Broomfield, 23, the affidavit states. One of Broomfield’s pockets was partially pulled out and investigators weren’t able to find a wallet, according to the affidavit.
When investigators tracked down Broomfield’s aunt, she told them he had called her the night of Sept. 6 asking her for a ride from Tommy Dean’s Bar, but she refused because she had grown tired of giving him rides, the affidavit states.
The following day investigators went to Tommy Dean’s Bar in Altus and watched the bar’s surveillance video, which showed Broomfield interacting with several patrons including suspect Lester Ballinger, 28, according to the affidavit.
While at the bar, investigators conducted interviews with several patrons who were present when Broomfield was there the night before, the affidavit states. One patron told investigators Broomfield had given him his debit card on several occasions to withdraw money from an ATM at a convenience store across the street, according to the affidavit. The withdrawals were $30, $25 and $30.
The bartender told investigators Broomfield left the bar with Ballinger at about 10:30 p.m., the affidavit states.
Investigators interviewed Ballinger the same day. He told them he and Broomfield left the bar together and tried to get more money from the ATM, but the convenience store was closed, so they walked to the school in Altus where Broomfield said he wanted to get drugs, according to the affidavit. Ballinger told investigators he didn’t want any drugs so the two separated, the affidavit states. Ballinger said he ran into a friend named John Stover while on the way home and then heard sirens shortly after getting back, according to the affidavit.
Ballinger lives with his parents, the affidavit states. Ballinger’s mother allowed investigators to search her home and collect her son’s clothes, according to the affidavit.
On Sept. 8, the medical examiner ruled Broomfield’s cause of death was sharp force injury to the neck, the affidavit states.
On Sept. 9, investigators interviewed Stover who said he met Ballinger with Broomfield and asked them to a party, but they declined, according to the affidavit. The same day, investigators conducted a second interview with Ballinger who told them he took Broomfield to a home on Church Street in Denning to buy drugs, but couldn’t provide an exact address, the affidavit states.
Investigators found a home matching Ballinger’s description on a different street on Sept. 10. They interviewed the occupants who told them they’d been moving into the home and no one had been there besides them, according to the affidavit. They also said they knew Ballinger, but didn’t associate with him, the affidavit states.
On Oct. 1, the Arkansas State Crime Lab confirmed there was blood on Ballinger’s boots, pants and shirt and on Oct. 21, the lab confirmed the blood belonged to Broomfield, according to the affidavit.
On Nov. 17, investigators interviewed Ballinger a third time. He told them when he and Broomfield parted ways Broomfield was alive, but requested an attorney when he was confronted with the DNA evidence from the crime lab.