A Gassville man, 31-year-old Robert Joseph Denny Whitfield, is facing three felony drug charges following a vehicle accident in which the truck he was driving struck a utility pole.
The incident began when a Baxter County Sheriff’s deputy responded to a vehicle accident on April 4 at the intersection of Ships Ferry Road and Highway 201 South.
The deputy reported upon arrival he observed a pickup nosed into an electrical pole, with a man later identified as Whitfield outside of the vehicle moving items around. When the officer inquired if Whitfield needed medical attention, he replied that he was alright and he was removing valuable items from the vehicle for his father who was in route to pick him up.
According to the arrest warrant, when the officer asked for Whitfield’s driver’s license, he got back into the vehicle, looked around and then said his driver’s license may have been thrown from the truck on impact.
The officer noted that Whitfield appeared nervous and tried to avoid close contact with him. Whitfield then disclosed that his driver’s license was suspended out of Missouri. He had already removed a toolbox from the vehicle and continued to gather items for no apparent reason since his father was allegedly en route to the scene.
An Arkansas State Police trooper arrived, and Whitfield then indicated he may have a concussion. Emergency medical services personnel were requested, and upon arrival asked Whitfield to walk to the ambulance. As he did so, Whitfield grabbed two bags to carry with him.
The deputy stopped Whitfield and advised he was going to check the bags for weapons. The first bag contained assorted tools and a child’s football, with clothes and a bag in the second. The officer squeezed the bag, which felt heavy and contained metal of some type. As the officer pulled the metal out of the bag, Whitfield said he was about to be ill.
As the officer looked further into the bag, he noticed a small plastic bag with white crystal residue. Continuing to check the bag, a black bag with a professional scale was located with a green metal cylinder attached. Inside the cylinder was a white crystal like substance with approximately 1.7 grams of what was identified as methamphetamine. A second plastic bag contained approximately 1.1 grams of what was identified as methamphetamine. Marijuana residue was also located, along with an unknown residue.
Whitfield was transported to Baxter Regional Medical Center and admitted overnight.
A check of his criminal history indicated he is a convicted felon and has served time in the California Department of Correction.
Whitfield was later arrested by Mountain Home Police and charged with three felony counts, possession of methamphetamine or cocaine with purpose to deliver and two counts of possession of drug paraphernalia.
He is being held in the Baxter County Detention Center on a bond of $10,430.
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