Photo: Marvin Laverne Aldridge
A long-running feud between father and son has intensified to the point one is now facing criminal charges.
And, in an incident unrelated to the family squabble, the father, 68-year-old Marvin Laverne Aldridge of Gassville, was arrested in the early morning hours Tuesday when he feuded with Mountain Home police over an incident that apparently did not happen.
In his family fight, Aldridge alleges property he owns was located at his 44-year-old son’s residence along County Road 56, and the son would not return it.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the situation was first reported to the Baxter County Sheriff’s Office in early March.
Aldridge told deputies the items included a pickup truck, a 16-foot utility trailer, a pressure washer, an electric planer and two 20-volt batteries.
The elder Aldridge apparently provided too much information when he accused his son of not returning a handgun he owned.
At first, Aldridge told investigators he had loaned the pistol to his son, then changed the story to claim his son had stolen the weapon.
According to the probable cause affidavit, the problem for the elder Aldridge is he is a convicted felon and is not allowed to be around firearms.
In fact, it is a felony itself.
When told this was the case, the father backtracked saying he did not want to report the gun stolen, but did want to file a report on the other items, including the 32-year-old pickup truck.
During one conversation, the father was alleged to have switched stories, claiming the gun belonged to his wife.
It was too late to take his admission of gun ownership back. One of the charges filed against him is being a felon in possession of a firearm.
After he made the statement to the investigating deputies, Aldridge called the sheriff’s office on numerous occasions to make demands about getting his property back, including the pistol.
An incident report written in late July indicates Aldridge had contacted the sheriff’s office to say he wanted to refile the initial complaint he had made about six months prior regarding the property dispute “because nothing was done with it.”
In the late July report, the .22 caliber semi-automatic pistol was once again listed as stolen.
The son told deputies he had no problem returning items to his father, but claimed the truck and certain tools had been given to him by his parent who then decided he wanted them back.
The son also claimed he had personal property at his father’s residence that Aldridge refused to return.
In the probable cause affidavit, it is reported that “many attempts” had been made by the sheriff’s office to arrange and assist in a peaceful swap of the disputed property held by father and son.
The effort was apparently ongoing during the 179 days since the situation was first reported to the sheriff’s office.
Both sides, however, are reported to have balked when it came time to actually make the swap.
Aldridge, for example, said he did not want his son towing the utility trailer to his house, because he was worried the younger man would damage it in the process.
The son did not want his father coming onto his property because of alleged threats the father had made to the son’s wife.
As the squabble dragged on, the elder Aldridge threatened to go to his son’s home and reclaim what he says is rightfully his.
Personnel in the sheriff’s office warned him not to take matters into his own hands, lest he wind up in jail.
Aldridge made another error during a conversation with the investigating deputy. Aldridge threatened to punch his daughter-in-law in the face.
In mid-May, the daughter-in-law informed the sheriff’s office the disputed truck and trailer were missing.
Investigators learned Aldridge had contacted a towing company to remove the pickup truck parked at his son’s residence. Personnel from the company refused to go onto the younger man’s property without permission.
The father contacted the company again and asked if they could come and tow the truck now parked on the side of the road. It had allegedly broken down when Aldridge had driven it off his son’s property.
When investigators asked Aldridge about the items taken from his son’s house, they reported he “became evasive” and terminated the conversation, saying he was “not feeling well.”
The son has also provided investigators a text message sent from Aldridge to his grandson.
The message is reported to have read, “Hey, punk. Send this message to your mama.” He is alleged to have used the message to negotiate for the return of his gun.
He is also said to have admitted being in possession of the utility trailer that had been taken from the son’s property.
Aldridge is being charged with being a felony in possession of a firearm, terroristic threatening and theft of property.
In the recent unrelated incident, Aldridge was arrested and jailed early Tuesday morning, after he became loud, belligerent, offensive and argumentative with Mountain Home police officers.
The officers had been dispatched after Aldridge called police and said a 24-year-old female had struck him in the face and kicked his car door.
The probable cause affidavit reported Aldridge was interested in having a relationship with the younger woman.
Police could find no evidence Aldridge had been struck or his car door had been kicked.
Aldridge was told it appeared nothing had happened, and no incident report would be made.
The Gassville man was not satisfied and continued to call 911 and report the alleged incident. An officer returned to the scene and told Aldridge again no report would be filed.
He was advised it would be best if he returned home, but Aldridge chose to continue arguing.
After a time, the officer arrested Aldridge. As he was placing him into the back seat of the patrol car, Aldridge was reported to have attempted to pull away
Aldridge was booked on charges of resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and obstructing governmental operations.
He was released from the Baxter County Detention Center shortly after 2 a.m., after posting a $1,000 bond on the misdemeanor charges.
WebReadyTM Powered by WireReady® NSI