A Marion County man who told police he felt he was being followed in the Mountain Home Walmart and allegedly threw items at store staff in an apparent attempt to hold them at bay while he made his escape from the business was in Baxter County Circuit Court last week.Twenty-five-year-old Derrick Cleveland of Price Place has pled not guilty to charges stemming from the incident. He was ordered to reappear in court in August.
Store employees responsible for detecting shoplifting called Mountain Home police Feb. 15th reporting a male in the store was causing a scene and appeared to be impaired.
A description of the silver-colored truck in which Cleveland was attempting to make his escape from the store parking lot was provided to a MHPD officer, and he was able to locate and stop the vehicle even before Cleveland was able to leave Walmart’s property.
In the probable cause affidavit, the officer reported Cleveland acting erratically when he made contact with him.
A “pen shaft” apparently being used as a “snort straw” to ingest illegal drugs was observed by the officer in the truck. He also saw a partially empty bottle of vodka. Cleveland is alleged to have admitted to smoking methamphetamine on the day of the incident. A further search of the truck turned up a small plastic bag containing a white crystalline substance field testing positive for methamphetamine.
In addition, the officer found three firearms in the vehicle. Cleveland was reported to have two rifles — including an AR 15 — and a 12 gauge shotgun.
One of the charges Cleveland faces is simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, a Class Y felony — the most serious class of crimes in Arkansas. If convicted of a Class Y felony, a person can be sentenced from 10-to-40 years or life. Other felony charges against Cleveland are possession of methamphetamine and paraphernalia used to ingest the drug and public intoxication, a misdemeanor.
In addition to the criminal charges, the state has filed a civil suit against Cleveland seeking the forfeiture of the three weapons.
According to court records, Cleveland is free on $5,000 bond.
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