File photo: Alton Bruce Cooke
The subject of a manhunt for two days in Baxter County has been found dead in a house in Gassville, after authorities surrounded the house and used tear gas to try to get him to surrender and a person who allegedly tried to help him hide has been arrested. Twenty-eight-year-old Alton Bruce Cooke was wanted for allegedly running a vehicle off the road in Midway and firing shots inside, hitting both passengers.
According to a joint press release from Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery and Gassville Police Chief Tim Mayfield, investigators from several agencies developed information that Cooke was at a residence on Kirkland Street in Gassville. Surveillance was set up, and at about 1:30 Thursday afternoon, investigators made contact with two people in the house who said Cooke was armed with a handgun and had run into the back room.
Law enforcement officers from multiple agencies surrounded the house and evacuated surrounding homes. Authorities made numerous attempts over several hours to communicate with Cooke without success. Montgomery and Mayfield say about 5:30, tear gas was used and shortly afterwards, the Mountain Home Police Department Special Response Team made entry into the house where they found Cooke dead in a self-made barricade.
The law officers say based on evidence at the scene, it appears Cooke died from a self-inflicted gun shot to the head. A 9 mm pistol was found in his hand. His body has been sent to the state crime lab to confirm the cause of death.
Photo: Courtney Denise Taylor
A Gassville woman has been arrested in connection with the case. Forty-three-year-old Courtney Denise Taylor has been charged with a felony count of hindering apprehension or prosecution. Her bond is set at $50,000. Montgomery says more details about her arrest will be released Friday.
The manhunt began early Wednesday morning, following a shooting incident in Midway. Montgomery says the victim and her male passenger turned from State Highway 5 onto State Highway 178 when Cooke allegedly rammed their vehicle. A short distance later, Cooke allegedly rammed their vehicle again, causing it to wreck near the Midway post office. Montgomery says the suspect then allegedly fired multiple shots into the wrecked vehicle and fled the area.
Both victims were injured by the gunshots and were taken to Baxter Regional Medical Center, where they were both treated and released. Their names have not been released.
Montgomery says indications are the female victim and Cooke had a past relationship.
Cooke was also a registered sex offender in Baxter County. He was convicted in 2013 of computer child pornography involving sexually explicit conversations via the internet with a 14-year-old female, during which he discussed meeting her for sex.
Agencies involved in the case include the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office, the Gassville Police Department, Mountain Home Police Department, Arkansas Department of Community Corrections Absconder Unit, U.S. Marshall’s Office, Arkansas Department of Correction Dog Tracking Unit, Flippin Police Department, Gassville Fire Department and the Baxter County Coroner’s Office.
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