Former Flippin police chief on track for trial in July
Former Flippin Police Chief Ronald “Dusty” Smith in on track for a jury trial in July following his appearance before Circuit Judge John Putman Wednesday.
In April, Smith’s request for a continuance was granted until July 12th. According to the current scheduling order in the case, Smith’s appearance Wednesday was his final opportunity for changing his plea before proceeding to a trial.
Smith was arrested last November and charged with theft of property for allegedly taking funds from the City of Flippin.
In January, the results of an investigation by the Arkansas Legislative Audit indicated the total of the funds Smith is alleged to have taken from the City of Flippin had grown to more than $63,000. The audit results were contained in a probable cause affidavit indicating a Class B felony count of theft of property had been filed against Smith, reflective of the increased dollar amount of the missing funds.
The original affidavit filed in late November followed an investigation by Arkansas State Police at the request of 14th Judicial District Prosecuting Attorney David Ethredge into the misuse of over $8,000 in funds from the City of Flippin. The investigation led to Smith’s arrest on a Class C felony count of theft of property. The amended count reflected the amount of missing property ranging from $5,000 to $25,000.
The investigation leading to Smith’s arrest was triggered when the city’s keeper of the records, identified only as a part-time employee, received an email from a bank saying the former police chief’s city credit card was within 20 percent of its limit. This was a concern because Smith was reportedly on vacation from the Flippin Police Department and heading to Florida to work for a private company. An October bank statement noted $3,700 on Smith’s card. Ninety percent of those charges were from outside the state of Arkansas.
After the request for the State Police investigation, Ethredge requested an audit by the Arkansas Legislative Audit to be conducted from January 1, 2015 to the present for any credit cards, police accounts, drug buy accounts, and any accounts associated with Smith during this time frame.
According to the latest affidavit, the auditor reported from January 1, 2015 to the present Smith misused $63,718.84 in funds from the City of Flippin.
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MH woman charged in connection with vehicle accident claiming life of unborn child
A Mountain Home woman, 43-year-old Michele Lynn Wood, has been arrested and charged with manslaughter and reckless driving in connection with an accident June 12th claiming the life of an unborn child. While police did not release the name of the victim or her mother, the mother did an interview with KYTV where she is identified as Ashley Roemmich and the baby is identified as Callie Brooke Roemmich.
Mountain Home Police Chief Carry Manuel says the fatal accident followed a series of 911 calls referencing a vehicle being driven recklessly, being all over the road, and nearly hitting a second car head-on.
The first call to 911 came from a driver in the area of Highway 5 North. At approximately 5:47 p.m., the caller advised dispatch he was following a blue car, and it was all over the road. The same individual called back about five minutes later saying the vehicle was now on Highway 126 North, headed south toward Gassville.
The caller contacted 911 a third time a short while later saying he needed a county or state unit because the vehicle had almost hit another vehicle head-on. The caller stayed on the phone with the 911 operator, giving details as they happened.
He said the female driver had just stopped in the middle of the road, blocking both lanes of traffic. The caller then followed the vehicle until it arrived at a car wash in Gassville. The caller later told officers the female driver exited the car and was looking at her hanging side passenger mirror. The caller was met by a Gassville officer. The Gassville unit then advised dispatch to notify the Mountain Home Police Department the vehicle was eastbound on U.S. Highway 62/412, but he had traffic between his vehicle and the car he was following and could not watch her driving.
About 6:45, a female called Baxter County dispatch advising she was almost sideswiped by a blue four-door car going through Mountain Home. The caller advised the vehicles side mirror was hanging, and the car was speeding passed her like she was sitting still.
The caller explained the blue car was swerving in and out of traffic lanes and had run the red traffic signal at Cardinal and Highway 62. She described the car as a blue four-door with no tinted windows, being driven by a blond girl with her hair in a messy bun.
At approximately 8:20, a call came into 911 regarding a two-vehicle accident involving the blue car. A witness to the accident told law enforcement the car had flown past him at the square on Main Street in Mountain Home. He said his vehicle windows were down, and he had heard the tires squeal just before impact. The passenger of the second vehicle struck by the blue car was rushed by a passerby to Baxter Regional Medical Center.
Chief Manuel says it was learned the passenger was eight months pregnant. Bodycam video recorded a passenger in the blue vehicle immediately following the accident telling law enforcement, “She was driving way too fast for conditions coming around that curve. I told her to slow down.”
Manuel says the pregnant passenger was immediately taken into surgery where a female baby was delivered. Two days later, the baby was taken off life support while at Arkansas Childrens Hospital. According to the medical examiner, the baby sustained fatal hypoxic brain injury in utero, when the mother was injured in the motor vehicle collision. The baby was alive following delivery, and the mother had reportedly had a physician visit within the previous day before the accident and was given a clean bill of health.
In an earlier report, Chief Manuel told KTLO, Classic Hits and The Boot news it appeared alcohol was not a factor in the crash. However, blood was taken from Wood and was sent to the state crime lab for analysis.
Monday, Manuel said a toxicology report has not been received. Depending on the outcome of the report, additional charges could be filed.
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Thief leaves shoes, socks behind
A Mountain Home man, 30-year-old Cory Elling, has been arrested and charged in connection with a number of incidents involving theft of property, including allegedly entering a local store where he wore a new pair of boots as he left, leaving behind his old shoes and socks.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the incidents began on June 15th when Mountain Home Police were notified a storage unit had been broken into and numerous power tools and associated items were missing.
That same day, officers were advised of a stalled vehicle on Meadowbrook Drive. Officer arrived and observed a truck with the front wheel detached from the hub. Power tools and a cut lock were located on the front seat of the vehicle. The storage unit victim identified the tools as her and her key fit the lock.
On Monday, Mountain Home Police officers were advised of a theft from Walker’s Auction. Video surveillance on June 19th allegedly captures Elling taking a took box between 11:00 p.m. and midnight. Other items were also reported missing.
Also on Monday, a second individual contacted Mountain Home Police advising Elling had allegedly stored property in her garage she suspected was stolen. The property included a tool box identified as stolen from Walker’s Auction.
The following day, Elling is alleged to have stolen a new pair of boots from a local retailer. Video surveillance reportedly shows Elling pick up a pair of cutters from the tool aisle and cut the anti-theft device off the boots. He allegedly put the new books on and left the store, leaving his old shoes and socks in the store.
On Wednesday, Mountain Home Police were advised of a theft and damage at a Mountain Home storage facility. The complainant told officers his chain link fence was cut, allowing entry to the facility. Once inside, the suspect damaged three campers by smashing the windows and prying the doors. Four storage unit were broken into. It appeared a cutting tool had been used to gain access.
Video surveillance cameras were stolen by the suspect. Investigators were able to obtain a foot print from a storage unit and match it to Elling’s shoe.
Later on Wednesday, police learned of a stolen vehicle from a Mountain Home business. When officers arrived at the location where the vehicle was stolen, they found a truck Elling had been driving. Inside the truck was the video surveillance equipment reported stolen from the storage facility.
A short time later, the stolen vehicle was located and Elling was taken into custody.
On Thursday, police received a report of a break-in at a Mountain Home storage unit. The complainant advised she believes entry was made between June 1st and June 27th, with a cedar chest reported missing from the unit.
Elling has been charged with nine counts of breaking or entering, theft of a motor vehicle, three counts of criminal mischief, all felonies, along with three misdemeanor counts of theft of property.
His bond was set at $10,000, and he is set to appear in Baxter County Circuit Court in July.
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Fatal sinkhole is expanding
The sinkhole that killed a man along the Spring River in Fulton County is growing, according to Commissioner of State Lands John Thurston.
KATV reports the commissioner met with several stakeholders Thursday afternoon at the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and says several agencies are working to “address both the immediate safety concerns and whether a long-term solution exists to avoid this issue in the future.”
Earlier this month, the sinkhole opened up below Sadler Falls and claimed the life of Donny Wright, who was with a group of men he helped to house and mentor through the Life Recovery Center.
According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, crews with the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission have since roped off the area near where the whirlpool formed and the area will remain blocked off as the state begins an evaluation of the riverbed. Arkansas Game and Fish Commission have enlisted a consultant to evaluate the area and the assessment will begin as soon as Monday.
Additionally, a geological survey has been conducted on the area. To read the full Arkansas Geological Survey, go online to www.scribd.com/document/382363866/Arkansas-Geological-Survey-on-the-Spring-River-sinkhole#from_embed.
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3 MH Bear State Bank locations closing
The three Bear State Bank locations in Mountain Home are set to close on September 21st. The three in Mountain Home are among 20 bank officials say will shutter their doors following the acquisition of the financial institutions in April by Arvest Bank.
The three Bear State Bank facilities set for closure are located at 668 Highway 62 East, 1337 Highway 62 Southwest and 3027 Highway 62 East.
In a statement, Arvest officials say the closings were a possibility since the pending acquisition was first announced last August, depending on the close proximity to Bear State Bank branches. Local Arvest leadership has made those decisions on a case-by-case basis, and as a result, 20 current Bear State branches will permanently close.
Customers who use any of the affected branches may bank at any Arvest location beginning September 24th.
Additionally, Bear State customers with safe deposit boxes in the affected branches are being asked to remove or relocate the contents of their boxes prior to July 27th. Affected customers may relocate the contents of their boxes to any Arvest branch and can begin the process by visiting one of the closing Bear State locations.
Officials are working with all of the current associates in these Bear State branches to find them a place at other Arvest Bank locations.
Arvest Bank announced it completed the acquisition of Bear State Financial, the parent company of Bear State Bank, in April. The purchase was a cash transaction valued at approximately $391 million. With the close of the deal, Arvest had assets of approximately $18.76 billion.
Bear State purchased First Federal Bank of Harrison, with locations in Mountain Home, in 2015.
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