HARDY, Ark. — Two men have been arrested following a break-in at a Hardy office where Native American artifacts, sports memorabilia, and other valuables were stolen, and an attempt was made to set the building on fire, according to the Sharp County Sheriff’s Office.
The investigation began on June 14 when a victim reported a burglary at their office on Cope Avenue. The victim said someone had previously entered the building’s basement through a window but had taken nothing at that time.
Surveillance footage later captured two individuals breaking in around 1:47 a.m. on June 13. One suspect was seen cutting a hole in the floor to access the office, then letting the second man in. The pair disabled the doorbell camera shortly afterward by shining a phone light into the lens.
The suspects made off with valuable items, including:
A large arrowhead collection
A Duck River sword artifact
An iron rock mask from Cahokia Mounds
Framed sports jerseys signed by Pau Gasol, Shane Battier, and Julius Erving
A sports card collection
Beanie Babies bearing the victim’s daughter’s name
The stolen property was valued at $28,700, and authentication documents were provided to investigators.
Deputies also found signs of an attempted arson, including burned magazines and debris scattered across the floor.
Following leads, officers went to a residence on Floral Road in Concord, where one suspect, Sharp, fled into nearby woods but was quickly caught. Officers saw several stolen items in plain view, including Beanie Babies, a sports jersey, and arrowheads. A search warrant was later obtained, and the items were seized. Sharp was taken into custody.
In a Miranda interview, Sharp confessed to the crime and identified Dawson as his partner. He stated Dawson had taken the majority of the stolen items.
On July 16, Dawson was interviewed and also confessed to the burglary and theft. He claimed the pair had been “put up to the acts,” though he did not name who. He led officers to two locations where they recovered a trash bag filled with sports cards, arrowheads, and a large Native American artifact. Additionally, an anonymous person returned two boxes of artifacts on Dawson’s behalf.
Both men now face multiple felony charges, including burglary, theft of property, and attempted arson. Authorities are continuing to investigate the case and recover more stolen items.
