Police in Eureka Springs arrested registered sex offender for violation of conditions of state registry requirements
- Dennis McCaslin
- May 10, 2025
- 1 min read
On Thursday, Eureka Springs Police arrested 49-year-old Divendra Kumar Patel for allegedly violating a restriction prohibiting him from entering a school campus.
Patel, a resident of East Van Buren in Eureka Springs, is a registered Level 3 sex offender, according to the Arkansas State Sex Offender Registry. His prior conviction for attempting to commit aggravated sexual assault of a child bars him from accessing school grounds.
The specific school involved and details of the incident have not been released by authorities.
The charge, “Offender Prohibited from Entering School Campus,” carries potential penalties under Arkansas law, including jail time and fines. Patel is scheduled to appear in Carroll County Circuit Court on June 2, 2025, at 9:00 a.m.
The Arkansas State Registry lists Patel under multiple aliases, including Eddie Lee Arnold, Sonny Arnold, and over 30 others.
He is described as 5’10” with black hair, black eyes, and numerous scars and tattoos on his arms, chest, abdomen, and back. Distinctive features include prescription glasses, dentures, and a birthmark on his left leg.
Eureka Springs Police declined to provide further details, citing an ongoing investigation. The Carroll County Sheriff’s Office, which maintains the county’s inmate roster, confirmed Patel’s booking but referred inquiries to the arresting agency.
Arkansas law, under the Sex Offender Registration Act of 1997, mandates that registered offenders adhere to restrictions on entering schools and other child-centric locations. The Arkansas Crime Information Center reports 47 registered sex offenders in Carroll County as of the latest data.
