Hope man charged in connection with 2025 Spring Hill Dollar General break-in

HOPE – Charges were filed this week in Hempstead County Circuit Court against Marcus Laroy George, 42, of Hope for Commercial Burglary and Theft of Property. DNA evidence allegedly linked George to the September 2025 burglary of the Spring Hill Dollar General.

According to the reasonable cause affidavit filed in Circuit Court, Hempstead County Deputies Brandon Schroader and Guadalupe Becerra were dispatched to a burglary alarm and made contact with the store manager. The manager told the deputies she triggered the alarm when she entered the store and saw the cigarette cabinet open and the safe had been broken into.

At the time of the incident, $1,835.81 was determined to be missing along with $3,766.02 in merchandise including Kool. Newport, and L&D brand cigarettes. Laundry detergent, a laundry basket, assorted candies, and assorted body deodorant also taken. Totaled together, $5,602.03 was reported missing.

Deputies reviewed store camera footage that allegedly showed three suspects wearing black hoodies, masks, gloves, and dark pants crawling from the back of the store to the front at 2:50 am. The camera footage allegedly captured images of the safe being entered and the self-checkout money drawer being broken into and money removed. Another suspect is shown allegedly entering the office and breaking into file cabinets to find a deposit bag while scattering papers and supplies throughout the store. At about 3:30 am, three suspects are shown leaving through a hole that had been cut in the back of the building.

Deputy Schroader photographed footprints near the hole. Captain Justin Crane gathered a VIHO Vape located under an end cap in the store. A review of the film footage allegedly showed one of the suspects patting the front pocket of his hoodie, as if he had dropped something. The vape was transported to the Arkansas Crime Lab in Little Rock.

The Crime Lab allegedly gathered DNA evidence of a profile of Marcus George. According to the filing affidavit, Deputy Jeremy McBride ran a background check on George that showed a lengthy criminal history, including breaking and entering, theft by receiving, forgery, possession of firearms by certain persons, residential burglary, and several assault charges. George, according to the document, is on active supervision with Arkansas Probation and Parole.

George is currently in the Hempstead County Detention Center. Bond has been set at $100,000.