Police car struck, shots fired following multi-county high-speed chase
Details have been released on a multi-county, high-speed pursuit Friday leading to a patrol unit being struck, shots being fired at an oncoming vehicle and four people being arrested.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed Monday, the incident began when a Batesville Police Department officer conducted a traffic stop. The 2019 pickup truck contained a driver and three occupants.
The driver, identified as 21-year-old D.E. “River” White of Cave City fled the traffic stop at a high rate of speed, with officers from the Batesville Police Department and the Independence County Sheriff’s Office in pursuit into Izard County.
The truck reached speeds in excess of 90 miles per hour, while driving on the wrong side of the road. During the pursuit, the vehicle passed an Izard County Sheriff’s Office vehicle on Arkansas Highway 69, striking the unit.
However, the Izard County deputy was able to establish a one-lane road block with his patrol car. He exited his vehicle as White drove toward the unit and the deputy at a high rate of speed.
The deputy fired three rounds from his sidearm at the rapidly approaching truck. The truck swerved around the deputy and continued on, with officers continuing the pursuit.
The fleeing truck took several further turns, colliding with and knocking down a stop sign, before entering a ditch and coming back onto the roadway.
The truck was traveling slowly when the Izard County deputy again pulled his patrol car in front of the truck ending the pursuit.
The four subjects in the truck fled on foot and were apprehended a short time later.
In addition to White, the other vehicle occupants were identified as Trevor Woodham, Tiara Trammell and 27-year-old Britanie Southerland of Batesville, also known as Britanie Lopez. Ages and addresses for Woodham and Trammell have not been made available.
During a search, officers located drug paraphernalia. White told officers the vehicle belonged to Woodham, who told law enforcement it was uninsured. The Arkansas Crime Information Center database indicated White’s driver’s license is suspended.
White faces felony charges of aggravated assault, first-degree criminal mischief, fleeing and requirements in accidents involving death or personal injuries, along with misdemeanor counts of fleeing, insurance required-minimal coverage, driving while license cancelled, suspended or revoked and improper use of evidence of registration.
His bond was set at $30,000.
Southerland has been charged with a felony count of possession of drug paraphernalia, as well as a misdemeanor count of fleeing. Her bond was set at $5,000.
Records do not reflect charges for Woodham and Trammell.
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On final day in office, outgoing Cotter mayor fires fire chief
On her final day in office on Monday, outgoing Cotter mayor Peggy Hammack relieved the city’s fire chief of his duties. Former chief Cory Swartz confirmed to KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot news the two met Monday afternoon at her request, saying he was offered the opportunity to resign or be terminated.
Swartz says he had served as the city’s fire chief for a year and a half, with Hammack having appointed him to the position.
Reached just hours after having taken the oath of office Tuesday as Cotter’s new mayor, George “Mac” Caradine says former assistant chief Lyle Jack will be serving as the department’s interim chief until the vacated position can be filled.
Caradine says the number one responsibility is the protection of the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Cotter, whether its fire or police.
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Caradine says Hammack made him aware of her actions, but declined to provide additional details, saying it was private information.
Swartz says he had known for a month Hammack might take this action. He says when he asked the former mayor why she was asking him to leave, he was told it was for the use of fowl language and information he had shared with members of his department regarding his attempt to purchase a fire engine and actions by Hammack.
Swartz says despite the council approving the purchases of the used engine at a cost of $25,000 at its October meeting, Hammack vetoed the action. Hammack confirmed the veto, terming it old news.
Mayor Caradine and Swartz say other firemen resigned after learning of Monday’s termination.
Beyond confirmation of the veto, Hammack says the city is now under a new administration and referred further comment to Mayor Caradine, including whether other members of the fire department had resigned. She says no resignations were submitted to her.
With regard to the termination of Swartz, she says she doesn’t take her decisions lightly, and she says the Cotter Fire Department will be fine.
Mayor Caradine says for anyone interested in being considered for Cotter’s new fire chief, applications are available at city hall and the fire department.
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Missing vehicle tire scores roadway, leads to fleeing suspect
A Mountain Home man, 43-year-old Jimmy Sutterfield Jr., has been arrested following an incident in which he reportedly fled from a Cotter residence in a vehicle with the right front tire missing, leaving the roadway scored. The marks in the roadway allowed a Cotter Police officer to track Sutterfield’s vehicle to Old Cotter Road, where it was found disabled.
According to the probable cause affidavit, Cotter police responded to a hit and run incident Baxter County deputies were working Dec. 27th.
The Cotter Police officer arrived at a residence along South Avenue in Cotter and learned Sutterfield had allegedly been in a verbal dispute with a female at the home. Sutterfield reportedly threatened to ram his truck into the residence with the woman and her children inside.
The woman’s juvenile son allegedly threw a chair at Sutterfield, and the two exchanged words. Sutterfield then reportedly got into his truck and purposely drove it into the juvenile’s car, before fleeing.
After locating Sutterfield’s disabled vehicle, the Cotter police officer located the Mountain Home man at the residence listed on his vehicle registration, placed him in custody and transported him to the Baxter County Detention Center without incident.
Sutterfield has been charged with a felony count of first-degree criminal mischief. His bond was set at $5,000.
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Concealing methamphetamine in undergarment leads to arrest
A Flippin woman, 23-year-old Veronica Edkins, has been arrested and charged with a felony drug offense after she allegedly concealed methamphetamine in her undergarment.
According to the probable cause affidavit, on Christmas, law enforcement responded to a Mountain Home apartment complex where Edkins had requested an ambulance after injuring her leg in a physical domestic incident with her boyfriend. She made her first appearance in Baxter County Circuit Court Thursday on crutches.
On the day of the incident, officers entered the front door of the apartment, after repeatedly knocking on windows and doors without any response. They found Edkins in the living room with two children and her boyfriend in the back bedroom with a third young child.
The woman’s boyfriend, bleeding from his left eye brow, told the officers the couple’s dispute began verbally over Edkins allegedly leaving a glass methamphetamine pipe on the floor where the children had access to it. He then told the officers the pipe was in Edkins’ bra.
Officers then requested she pull her undergarment out straight. As she grabbed her bra, officers noticed she was trying to pinch something inside to avoid it falling out. She then pulled out two black socks containing .4 of a gram of a white crystal-like substance.
Edkins said she punched her boyfriend because he was on top of her as they argued.
Edkins is charged with a felony count of possession of a controlled substance, methamphetamine, as well as misdemeanor counts of third-degree domestic battery and endangering the welfare of a minor in the second degree. Her bond was set at $2,500. She was released from the Baxter County Detention Center about two hours later.
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First baby of 2019 arrives at BRMC on New Year’s Day
It didn’t take long for the first baby of the new year to arrive at Baxter Regional Medical Center.
Kellan Clements, son of Brendan and Samantha Clements of Salem, arrived at 2:42 on New Year’s morning.
Kellan Clements weighed 6 pounds, 13 ounces and measured 19 1/4 inches. He is the Salem couple’s third child, joining a 12-year-old sister and a 5-year-old brother.
Samantha Clements says even though Kellan wasn’t due until Jan. 7th, she had said from the get-go he might arrive on New Year’s Day. She was right. Like his two siblings, he also arrived six days early.
Samantha Clements says her husband had been working out of town and had planned to return home on Sunday. However, a change in his schedule resulted in him cutting it closer than planned for the arrival of their son. She says he arrived home less than two hours before Kellan was born.
BRMC’s first baby of 2019 was delivered by Dr. Corey Smith of Baxter Regional Comprehensive Women’s Clinic.
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