Kevin Dale Apple, 53, was killed on 6/26/21 while on duty. Officer Apple and fellow officer Brian Stamps answered a call about 11:30 a.m. on 6/26/21 to be on the lookout for an older model blue Jeep fleeing from Rogers police officers. Rogers police issued the bulletin concerning the Jeep after receiving a call that a man was holding two people at gunpoint in the parking lot of the Walgreens on Walnut Street, Oscar Olvera said he believed Cash and Andazola had taken a check from his mailbox, and he started following the Jeep in his pickup, according to the affidavit. Olvera followed the Jeep to Walgreens and confronted Cash and Andazola. He said Cash was holding a check taken from his mailbox. He grabbed the check from Cash and pulled his gun to prevent the pair from leaving the scene. Olvera said he ordered Cash and Andazola to get out of the Jeep and when they were on the ground he put his gun back in a holster and called 911. Cash and Andazola said they had taken the check from Olvera’s mailbox. Then Cash and Andazola sped off. Apple and Stamps saw the Jeep at a White Oak convenience store about 12:09 p.m. They parked on either end of the Jeep to box it in which was parked at the store’s gas pumps. When they attempted to speak with the occupants, the driver of the jeep, Shawna Cash accelerated toward Officer Apple and hit Apple, who was carried on the front of Cash’s vehicle 149 feet until she hit Apple’s police car. Apple was pinned between the two vehicles and dragged underneath Cash’s vehicle, according to the affidavit. He was dragged through the parking lot, over a curb and almost to the intersection of Townsend Way and Slack Street and died at the scene. Stamps shot at the Jeep, according to reports. The Jeep was pursued by officers from multiple agencies, including the Benton County Sheriff’s Office, said Sheriff Shawn Holloway. Elijah Anadoloza Sr., 18 fled the scene on foot after Cash wrecked. and was captured a short time later in a camper on Pine Street in Bella Vista. Shawna Rhae Cash, 22, of Pine Bluff and Elijah Anadoloza Sr.,18, of Bella Vista have been arrested in Apple’s death. Both were being held in the Benton County Jail on 6/26/21 on charges of capital murder or attempted capital murder. Officer Apple earned his Arkansas Commision on Law Enforcement Standards and Training (Part-time II) certification in 1995. He earned his basic police training certification in 1997, a drug raid tactics course certification in 1999 and certificate on law enforcement standards and training in 1999. Officer Apple was certified in three levels of S.W.A.T. high risk event planning and operational skills. His professional profile, according to his resume, includes sheriff patrol deputy, tactical drug unit team member, police officer, special police entry, response team member, certified sniper, certified field training officer, certified K9 officer, marine patrol deputy and a reserve deputy sheriff. Apple was employed part-time with Farmington Police Department from 2014 until hired at Pea Ridge and worked full-time at Farmington 2013 to January of 2014. He was a part-time patrolman with Bethel Heights from November 2009 to February 2012 and worked full-time as the K9 officer for Lowell Police Department from December 2003 to July 2009. He leaves behind his dog Ratchet.
Shawna Rhae Cash has had several run-ins with law enforcement in Benton and Washington counties since 2018. Here’s a look at the felony criminal charges filed against Cash.
• May 19, 2018: Cash was arrested in connection with theft by receiving, but the charge was later dropped by prosecutors.
•Sept. 7, 2018: Cash was charged with felony failure to appear. She pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation, which prosecutors later moved to revoke. The case is pending.•
•Aug. 7, 2018: Cash was charged with possession of drug paraphernalia for methamphetamine or cocaine. She failed to appear but was later arrested on the failure to appear and sentenced to probation on the original charges, which prosecutors later moved to revoke. The case is pending.
• Jan. 31, 2019: Cash was charged with possession of methamphetamine or cocaine. She failed to appear for court, but was bonded out. She later pleaded guilty and was sentenced to probation. Prosecutors later moved to revoke Cash’s probation, and she failed to appear. Cash was arrested on the failure to appear and bonded out again.
• July 2, 2019: Cash was charged with residential burglary and theft of property. She was sentenced to probation. Prosecutors later moved to revoke Cash’s probation, but she failed to appear. Cash was arrested on the failure to appear and bonded out. The case is pending.
•Dec. 23, 2019: Cash was charged with possession of methamphetamine or cocaine. She has failed to appear twice and been arrested on the failure to appear twice, but has bonded out each time. The case remains open.
• Jan. 3, 2020: Cash was charged with theft of property and fraudulent use of a credit or debit card. The case remains open.
• Dec. 14, 2020: Cash was charged with theft by receiving. The case remains open.
• Jan. 19, 2021: Cash was charged with theft by receiving. The case remains open.
• Feb. 4, 2021: Cash was charged with theft by receiving. The case remains open.
•June 26, 2021. Cash was arrested in connection with the death of Pea Ridge Officer Kevin Apple.
Shawna Cash, 22, of Decatur was arrested on 6/26/21 in connection with capital murder, flight-escape, criminal mischief, fleeing on foot, two count of fleeing, five counts of aggravated assault, obstructing governmental operations, two counts of first degree criminal mischief, escape, driving with suspended/revoked license, two counts of failure to stop or yield, three counts of reckless driving, failure to signal, drove left of center, three counts of failure yield vehicle overtake on left, speeding, improper use of registration, failure stop after accident with death, possession of controlled substance and failure to appear. Benton County Circuit Judge Brad Karren ordered Cash be held without bail. Cash has a criminal record in Arkansas dating back to 2018, when she pleaded guilty to a drug possession charge. She pleaded guilty again in 2019 for another drug possession charge and again that same year to burglary and theft charges. In late 2019 she was arrested again for drug possession, and in early 2020 she was charged with property theft and credit card fraud and was arrested twice earlier this year for theft by receiving. Since both defendants are eighteen years of age or older, they are both eligible for the death penalty if convicted as charged of capital murder of Officer Apple. The other punishment for capital murder under Arkansas law is life in prison without parole. Cash went before Benton County Circuit Judge Brad Karren for a hearing for April 15, 2022 to address other matters. During that arraignment, she pleaded “not guilty” on charges of capital murder. Cash has been held without bond in Benton County Jail. Jury selection is scheduled for 1/29/24.
Benton County Circuit Judge Robin Green issued the no-bail order for Andazola on 6/28/21. His arraignment is scheduled for 8 a.m. Aug. 2.Elijah Andazola was arrested in connection with accomplice to capital murder, flight-escape and refusal to submit to arrest. Arraignment is scheduled for 8 a.m. Aug. 2.Benton County Circuit Judge Brad Karren ordered. Andazola trial has been rescheduled from January to July 2023. On 9/15/22 the court issued a bench order delaying the trial start until 7/31/23.
