SILOAM SPRINGS, Ark. — A 20-year-old has been arrested after allegedly robbing a restaurant in Siloam Springs on May 11.
Noah Leffingwell, of Proctor, Oklahoma, was arrested for aggravated robbery, conspiracy to commit kidnapping, four counts of theft of property, aggravated assault, two counts of endangering the welfare of a minor, two counts of interfering with emergency communications, and no insurance.
An affidavit says that on May 11, officers responded to Barnett's Dairyette for a report of a robbery in progress. Dispatch said that there was a male in the restaurant with a shotgun, pointing it at people and robbing them. Employees told officers that the man who attempted to rob them had already left.
As officers were responding, an anonymous witness advised that they saw a man come from the area of Barnett's and enter a red truck, the affidavit said.
Some officers were then diverted to locate the suspect while others remained at the restaurant. Soon after, the truck was stopped for a search. The driver, identified as Leffingwell, was detained on the scene, according to court documents.
During a search of the vehicle, police located a fully loaded 12-gauge shotgun, multiple boxes of ammunition, clothing matching that of what Leffingwell was reportedly observed wearing in security footage, $768 in cash, duct tape, a notebook, and multiple phones, court filings said.
The restaurant's store manager provided security footage of the incident to police. The man in the video matched the man who was detained, according to the affidavit. The video showed Leffingwell entering through the front door with a shotgun. He was allegedly observed chambering a round into the gun and pointing it at an employee in the restaurant, attempting to get money from the register.
An employee can then be seen giving two cell phones and money from the register to Leffingwell. The suspect then left moments before police arrived, court documents said.
The following are handwritten notes found in the notebook, according to the affidavit:
- "Kids... stab, girls... shoot, boys... punch, grown-ups... fight with their heads. The real gattle is in the grain. Go to TDS. Apply."
- "Your consciousness is sensitive. Yes. Taking money from this person will make things temporarily difficult for him. But... adversity only tests and ultimately helps men. You're doing him a favor. Don't steal from a woman. Protect and care for women. Pick on someone your own size or bigger. Wealthier. Pick on someone who is dumb. He needs a shake-up."
- "Everywhere has bright lights and cameras, Harps - bright cameras, Dollar General - dim. Cameras. Gas Stations - bright. Cameras."
- "Watch for cop cars on patrol, watch for others' eyes watching to film you, write you down, call 911."
- "Mask your face. Dress obscurely, MUG the guy. Punch. Tape mouth and arms and legs."
- "Mask yourself. Duct tape on you, to tape him, take his phone, his wallet. Park your truck where no one sees it. Take him into a spot with no cameras. No lighting most of all. No watching eyes. Take him, bound to truck. Tell me where to get your money. The bank. Withdraw it. Smash his phone. Put in bucket of water."
- "Materials: duct tape: lots, truck. Shotgun + slugs + buckshot. Knife. Ballpeen hammer. Fists. Guts. Will. Mask. Black. Item to trade. Brains. Cold hard action."
- "To be successful, isolation, lone victim, good escape route, after 8 p.m. Easy in easy out convenience stores."
Leffingwell opted to remain silent during his arrest but later informed police he wanted to make statements. The suspect told police that he had begun plans to rob a business on the day of the incident. He told police that he was tired of being broke, according to the affidavit.
"Noah stated he hoped this was the only time he ever had to do anything like this," court documents said, adding that Leffingwell chose Barnett's for being an "easier target."
The affidavit says that Leffingwell spoke about the notebook and the notes during an interview with police, explaining that "he spoke about the red notebook and that he wrote the notes in the notebook about how he was going to carry out the attack."
The total value of theft for the incident was estimated to be $1,568.
Four employees were identified as victims or witnesses and recounted the incident to police. One said that Leffingwell demanded all of the money from their wallet, but when informed that they only had $4, Leffingwell told them to keep it.
Leffingwell is being held on a $200,000 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for June 17 in Benton County.
He has been ordered not to contact the staff or employees of Barnett's Dairyette.
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