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PIZZA DELIVERY DRIVER ROBBED

By Ray King/ OF THE COMMERCIAL STAFF
Thursday, November 5, 2009 12:20 AM CST

A delivery driver for Domino’s Pizza was knocked down and robbed Monday on the campus of the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and a student was identified as the suspect by campus police.

Deputy Prosecutor Rik Ramsey said Asaba Kugungza, 19, was identified from closed circuit video that was reviewed by university police, and the driver later identified Kugungza as the person who robbed him.

Ramsey said the driver, Matthew Kimsey, told campus officers he had been making a delivery when he was attacked from behind, knocked to the ground, hit in the back of the head and kicked several times by a male suspect later identified as Kugungza.

Kimsey reported that $40 and a cell phone were taken and the assailant ran behind Lewis Hall Dormitory, and Ramsey said Kimsey gave police a description of the clothing the man was wearing, which matched Kugungza on the closed circuit video.

Circuit Judge Berlin Jones set a $25,000 bond for Kugungza after ruling prosecutors had probable cause to charge him with robbery and misdemeanor theft of property. He also ordered Kugungza to have no contact with Kimsey until the case is settled.

Also Wednesday, Jones set a $50,000 bond for Dave Hart, 27, after ruling prosecutors had probable cause to charge Hart with possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana.

Reading from an affidavit from vice and narcotics Detective Sharon Reed, Ramsey said Hart was arrested Tuesday after he went to the probation and parole office in the Jefferson Square Shopping Center to meet with a probation officer.

Ramsey said Judge Rob Wyatt Jr. had ordered Hart to strictly comply with the terms and conditions of his probation or be arrested immediately, and Hart had failed to perform community service and missed scheduled appointments so he was taken into custody.

During a search of Hart’s car, Reed reported that officers found 3.8 grams of marijuana and more than 19 grams of crack cocaine, and said Hart, who was not employed, had $650 in his pocket when he was arrested.

Ramsey said Hart was placed on probation on drug related charges in 2008, and has a pending drug charge stemming from an arrest earlier this year.

Hart told the court he would hire his own attorney.

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