Photo: Michael George Scudder
A Mountain Home man has been arrested following a call to 911 reporting a man slumped over his vehicle’s steering wheel with the motor running.
Baxter County Sheriff John Montgomery says deputies found 45-year-old Michael George Scudder about 7:45 Friday morning in his vehicle at the AM&N Convenience Store, located on State Highway 201 North.
The deputies were able to secure both Scudder and the vehicle. Scudder is on parole and was searched. The search revealed a small plastic baggie containing approximately .48 grams of a brown powder substance field testing positive for fentanyl. A subsequent search of the vehicle revealed several syringes, a smoking device, a small amount of marijuana and an American Tactical AR 15 style Rifle equipped with a bump stock. The weapon was in a partially zipped case in loaded condition with the safety off and within reach of the defendant.
Sheriff Montgomery says during a post Miranda interview, Scudder admitted to purchasing the firearm for ½ gram of methamphetamine. He also advised he knew the firearm was stolen at the time. Scudder has been convicted of multiple felonies, including previous convictions of simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms.
Scudder has been charged with felony counts of possession of meth and fentanyl, felon in possession of a firearm, simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms, theft by receiving (firearm) and possession of drug paraphernalia. The simultaneous possession of drugs and firearms charge is a Class Y felony, the most serious class of crime in Arkansas not punishable by death.
Scudder also faces misdemeanors of possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of a controlled substance.
He is also charged as a habitual offender and for a parole violation.
He is being held in the Baxter County Detention Center on bond of $25,000, pending his appearance in Baxter County Circuit Court later this month. He has a no bond hold for his parole violation.
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