Fugitive from violent Cotter domestic incident captured
A Baxter County man, 47-year-old Robert Wayne Hadley of Cotter, wanted by authorities following a violent domestic disturbance over $5 last Saturday is in custody.
Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery says parolee Hadley was arrested Friday morning on an outstanding bench warrant for first-degree battery
Montgomery says a violent domestic disturbance reportedly occurred between Hadley and his stepfather at a residence along Walnut Hill Lane in Cotter resulting in injuries. Hadley reportedly used a baseball bat to assault his step-father and his mother.
Hadley was said to have become enraged over the issue of $5 he wanted to borrow from his mother to purchase a knife. Hadley struck his 76-year-old stepfather in the head and hand with the baseball bat. He also injured his 65-year-old mother while she was attempting to take the bat away from him. Both victims sustained injuries requiring medical attention. They were able to escape the residence and go to a neighbor’s home.
Hadley initially remained at the house, but had left before deputies arrived. Several deputies searched the area for the Cotter man, but were unable to locate him that evening. The baseball bat had been picked up and held by the neighbor to prevent Hadley from using it again.
A bench warrant was issued Tuesday for Hadley’s arrest. Information obtained via a search warrant issued to a communication service provider allowed authorities to track the fugitive to a residence in Marion County Friday morning. The sheriffs office requested assistance from Arkansas Department of Community Corrections Fugitive Task Force in apprehending Hadley. The Marion County Sheriffs Office was also made aware of the situation.
A team of officers from the Baxter County Sheriffs Office, the Arkansas Department of Community Corrections, and the canine team from the Arkansas Department of Correction – North Central Unit in Calico Rock descended upon a residence along Marion County Road 7032 in Flippin and found Hadley there. He was arrested and taken into custody without incident.
The Cotter man was taken to the Baxter County Detention Center and booked on two felony counts of first-degree battery. Bond was set at $50,000 as specified on the warrant, and Hadley is set to appear in circuit court next month.
In addition, a no-bond parole violation hold has been placed on Hadley, who has been booked into the Baxter County Jail 21 times since 2000, primarily on drug and alcohol charges. He was released on parole from the Arkansas Department of Correction in May 2017.
Also, while at the residence, officers encountered a probationer, 22-year-old Jarred William Kingbird of Midway, who was arrested on an outstanding warrant from the Cabot Police Department for failure to appear in court on a shoplifting charge. Kingbird was taken to the Baxter County Detention Center and incarcerated, pending transfer to Cabot authorities.
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Stone County authorities searching for fugitive
Authorities in Stone County are searching for a man who may be armed following an investigation into a possible stolen vehicle in the Fredonia Cemetery area.
Friday Stone County Sheriff Lance Bonds said during the investigation of the possible stolen vehicle Tuesday, an officer from his department spotted another suspicious vehicle in the same area.
When the investigator attempted to stop the suspicious vehicle, the driver fled at a high rate of speed in excess of 100 miles per hour. The investigator identified the driver as Phillip Callahan of Stone County. During the pursuit, Callahan destroyed a locked gate when he drove through it. It was later learned after crashing through the gate, Callahan attempted to set the vehicle on fire. With the investigator closing in, the Stone County man was unsuccessful in burning the vehicle. Callahan and another male fled on foot into a wooded area off of Sunny Land Road. A female was also located in the area, but is not considered a suspect in this incident.
During the course of the search for Callahan, law enforcement learned he was armed with a handgun when he fled. The North Central Arkansas Department of Correction K9 Team was requested for assistance, and road blocks were put in place. The Baxter County Sheriff’s Office also assisted in the search by providing its helicopter. At approximately midnight Tuesday, the ground search was suspended.
Anyone who sees or comes into contact with Callahan, is asked to contact the Stone County Sheriff’s Department at 870-269-3825 or any local or state law enforcement agency.
Callahan frequents the counties and areas around Stone County. He is wanted for parole absconding, kidnapping, felony fleeing and terroristic threatening.
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Half a million dollars worth of drugs and assets seized during arrest in Cotter
A man from Nevada City, California has been arrested in Baxter County with 13 pounds of high grade marijuana, a large amount of cash and weapons and authorities say the total value of seized drugs and assets is estimated to be nearly half a million dollars.
Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery says 57-year-old Craig Richard Whittingslow was arrested after officers with his department executed a search warrant at 740 Denton Ferry Road in Cotter Thursday afternoon. The sheriff says it’s believed Whittingslow arrived in the area Wednesday and the search warrant was obtained based on information developed by officers in his department.
The 13 pounds of high grade marijuana has a street value of about $100,000. The drugs were packed with an odor absorbing powder and stored in a charcoal lined duffel bag to also absorb the odor. Law enforcement also seized a large sum of cash, numerous firearms, a 2011 American Coach motor home and a 2001 Jeep Grand Cherokee.
Whittingslow is charged with felony counts of possession of a schedule VI controlled substance with purpose to deliver, possession of drug paraphernalia and simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms. He is being held on a $75,000 bond on those charges and is also being held for federal authorities.
Other agencies involved in the investigation and arrest were the 14th Judicial District Drug Task Force and the United States Drug Enforcement Agency.
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Pursuit in excess of 100 MPH leads to 3 felony charges
A high-speed pursuit reaching in excess of 100 miles per hour on a Sunday afternoon in Marion County has led to the arrest of 52-year-old Terry Ray Hampton of Summit.
According to the probable cause affidavit filed Wednesday, the incident occurred on May 6th when a Marion County Sheriff’s deputy patrolling Highway 14 north in the Lakeway area approaching a vehicle in the opposite lane driving erratically.
Observing the vehicle swerve off the roadway twice, the deputy activated his emergency lights and attempted a traffic stop. Instead of stopping, the vehicle accelerated north on Highway 14 with speeds reaching 80 to 90 miles per hour.
The vehicle slowed to turn onto Marion County Road 8001 and after turning immediately accelerated east in excess of 100 miles per hour. The vehicle being pursued slowed, sliding sideways in the roadway before turning onto Fee Hollow Terrace.
A short distance later, the vehicle turned into a driveway along Fee Hollow Terrace, sliding sideways, with the driver, later identified as Hampton, attempting to hide his vehicle behind a residence. However, he was unable to hide the vehicle due to trees blocking his path.
The vehicle came to a stop, with Hampton immediately exiting the pickup and running into the woods.
As the deputy left his patrol car to pursue Hampton on foot, he observed a female exiting Hampton’s vehicle from the passenger side.
The female told the officer she thought the driver’s name was Ray, but was unsure of his last name.
The officer inventoried the contents of the vehicle, locating drug paraphernalia, as well as multiple makeup items and two women’s wigs. The female told the officer some of the items were hers and said she believed some of the wigs and makeup belonged to Hampton.
The female told the officer she attempted to get Hampton to stop the vehicle, but he refused. She said being in the vehicle with him was the scariest thing she has ever been involved in.
Hampton was arrested Tuesday morning and booked into the Marion County Detention Center on 12 charges, including felony counts of false imprisonment, aggravated assault and fleeing in a vehicle. His bond was set at $25,000.
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Governor joins Hwy. 412 corridor conference in MH
Governor Asa Hutchinson joined about 170 state and local leaders at a North Arkansas East West Corridor Association conference Wednesday in Mountain Home. The conference focused on the results of a University of Arkansas at Little Rock economic impact study based on US Highway 412 improvements. The conference was held on the campus of Arkansas State University-Mountain Home bringing together individuals with a vested interest in seeing Highway 412 elevated to a “high priority” status for state and federal funding.
Last October, Gilbert Losurdo, Managing Director of the Corridor Association, told KTLO, KCTT and The Boot news a milestone had been reached with authorization by the Arkansas State Highway Commission to update a U.S. Highway 412 study.
Losurdo said the action by the Highway Commission meant the Arkansas Department of Transportation would begin an analysis of what is necessary in funding and operations to continue improving Highway 412 throughout northern Arkansas.
Following his visit to the conference, Governor Hutchinson said logistics play a key role in recruiting and expanding industry across the state.
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While advocating for the highway improvements as an economic development tool, Governor Hutchinson agrees the strategy for pursuing new and expanded business has changed over the past 20 years.
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Improvements to Highway 412 will make the northern tier of the state more accessible, bringing the growth Hutchinson says is critical for the area.
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